1. Which theorist?
Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development or Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence a theory of how people form what they think is right and wrong People possess different kinds of minds and therefore learn, remember, perform, and understand in different ways

2. What is Family?

3. Family Life Cycle Beginning Stage – Newlyweds
Childbearing Stage - Expanding
Parenting Stage- Developing
Launching Stage- Middle Age
Mid-Years Stage-Pre-Retirement 55-64
Aging Stage- Retirement 65+

4. What Situations could occur to change the family life cycle?
Individuals choose not to marry
Individuals whose spouses die or leave
Couples choose not to, or find they are unable to, have children
Families skip, overlap, or repeat stages, which creates new sequences
Families have additional children several years after first group of children
Families decide to adopt after their children are in the launching stage
Families are involved in second marriages; two families blend and stages are repeated

5. Look at Changes in Families
Early Families
Families Today
How are family structures different today than they were in 1960?
Who is the oldest person living in your family? Think of your family stories and record them now – so you will not forget
What do we know about early families in the US?
primarily rural
trans-generational, extended families lived together
strong sense of duty to family – oldest son typically inherited farm and the responsibility of caring for entire family
communities close – neighbors helped each other
social functions tied to church – look at rural churches, many have cemeteries and community halls attached
families large – no birth control and farm families needed lots of children to work and to replace children who died
births were not easy – women gave birth at home, many died in child birth – or from diseases such as influenza
there were single parents – due to death and desertion – few divorces, which were scandalous
Two characteristics, according to Lance and Synder of the early American family:
familism – family more important that the individual members – individual needs submitted to the needs of the family
Where are we today? Much debate of move back to familism from individualization – 80’s time of “follow your bliss”
authoritarian – father and son dominated decision making – male dominated
Look at changes through the 20th century
Contrast families of 1950s with 2010’s – p. 15 text
Look at top rated TV shows featuring families
1950 – I love Lucy
2010 – Modern Family

6. What do we know about early families in the US?
trans-generational, extended families lived together
strong sense of duty to family – oldest son typically inherited farm and the responsibility of caring for entire family
communities close – neighbors helped each other
social functions tied to church – look at rural churches, many have cemeteries and community halls attached
families large – no birth control and farm families needed lots of children to work and to replace children who died
births were not easy – women gave birth at home, many died in child birth – or from diseases such as influenza
there were single parents – due to death and desertion – few divorces, which were scandalous

7. Characteristics of Early Families
Familism – family more important than the individual members – individual needs submitted to the needs of the family
Where are we today? Much debate of move back to familism from individualization – 80’s time of “follow your bliss”
authoritarian – father and son dominated decision making – male dominated

8. Contrast Families in 1950s to 2010s – look at popular TV shows about families, such as “I Love Lucy” and “Modern Family”
How are they different?
Look at changes through the 20th century
Contrast families of 1950s with 2010’s
Look at top rated TV shows featuring families
1950 – I love Lucy
2010 – Modern Family

10. Household Types Through the Years
Look at changes over time of family structures through census data – see chart on Power Point

11. What has increased? Diversity Singles Cohabitation Dual Careers
Remarriages
Single Parents
Older Parents
Stress
Life Expectancy
Family Connections
Family Communication through technology
What has increased?
Diversity in marriage – civil unions, partnerships and gay marriages, blended,
Singlehood – people marrying later – late 20s
In 1900, 1.1% of population lived alone
In 2008, 10.3% of population lived alone
Cohabitation – up 500%
Dual Career Families – both partners with careers not just dual earner
Remarriages – blended families
Single parents –
1960 – 5.3% of babies born to single women
2005 – 36.8%
2009 – 40%
2011 – 41%
Older mothers
more births to women 35 and older than to teenagers,
Teen Pregnancy down for most groups - birth rate to Black teenagers down by half – up for Hispanic teenagers
births to women 40 and older now make up 4% of all births
Stress –
Due to changing economy –
Unemployment rates up – 2009 – of married couples with children, 6% of fathers unemployed in 09 vs. 3% in 07; unemployed mothers 4% in 09 compared to 2% in 07
Unmarried parents – 16% unemployed fathers in 09 compared to 9% in 07; unemployed mothers 8% in 09 vs. 4% in 07
Poverty associated with single parents –
Percentage of children living with two parents varies by race and origin (2009)
85% Asian
78% White, non Hispanic
60% Hispanic
38% Black
Life Expectancy –
Longer marriages, now more divorces among older couples
More pressures on Sandwich Generation – those who care for their parents and children at the same time
More issues caring for older parents
Family connections through technology – cell phones, texting, Facebook, Skype

12. How have families become more diverse?
civil unions, partnerships and gay marriages, blended

13. Statistically are people marrying at a younger or older age?
Older: people are establishing themselves, going to college, finding a career before marrying

14. How does remarriage affect the family unit?
Time spent
Getting along with step parent/siblings
Changes in routines
More people in the household at times

15. Has the rate of single parents declined or increased since 1960?
1960 – 5.3% of babies born to single women
2005 – 36.8%
2009 – 40%
2011 – 41%
Why do you think this has changed?

16. How do families stay connected?
Text, Skype, social media

17. What has Decreased? Family Size Divorce
Family Communication (face to face)
What has decreased?
Family size – Average size of family now 2.2 where typical household in 1790 was 5.8
Divorce – peaked in 1984, slight decline since then
Face to face communication – more people are communicating through technology and less time is spent in person

18. Abandonment – When a person who has assumed responsibility for the care of an older adult or child deserts or leaves

19. Types of Family Structures
Nuclear
Single-parent
Blended/Step-Family
Adoptive
Foster
Multi-Generational
Same-Sex Parents
Unmarried Partners/Cohabitating
Extended
Grandparent Family
Childless
Multi-Racial/Cultural

20. Types of Families Nuclear Family
Includes husband, wife, and one or more of their biological children.

21. Types of Families
Multi-Generational Family More than two generations of families living together For example: children, their parent and grandparents living together

22. Types of Families
Grandparent Family: Family in which the grandparents are the sole caregivers of the child

23. Types of Families
Blended/Step Families: Includes married couple, each spouse’s children from previous relationships, and any children they have together

24. Types of Families
Extended Family: Family unit that serves as a substitute family, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins

25. Types of Families
Adoptive Family: Parents and one or more children that are permanently and legally added to the family. These families can be nuclear, blended, single-parent, or extended

26. Types of Families
Foster Family: Family unit that serves as a substitute family for child. These families can be nuclear, blended, single-parent, or extended

27. Types of Families
Unmarried/Cohabitating Couples two unmarried people living together for a long period of time or on a permanent basis

28. Types of Families
Married Couples Family Married couple who has no children

29. Types of Families
Single Parent Family headed by mothers, fathers, or by a grandparent raising children as the primary adult

30. How would you parent?
Write down how you would react to the following parenting situations. Think about how you would really handle this situation, not how you think others would want you to handle it. BE READY TO SHARE.
1) Your four-year old uses inappropriate language in front of others.
2) Your seven-year old brings home their friend’s toy that they like without their friend’s permission.
3) Your fifteen-year-old teenager wants their curfew changed to midnight.
4) Your twelve-year old refuses to do their household chores.
5.) For the third straight month your sixteen-year old has gone over their cell phone minutes and the expense is more than you can afford.