2. 2
Families Today 2

3. Key Terms nuclear family single-parent families joint custody
extended family
stepfamilies
adoption
adoption agency
independent adoption
illegal market adoption
closed adoption
open adoption
foster families
guardian
continued

4. Key Terms family life cycle nurturance guidance discipline
power assertion
love withdrawal
induction
authoritarian
permissive
democratic
cultural diversity
multicultural families 4

5. Did You Know? Family is the oldest known social group
Families formed to ensure the well-being of children
Family ideas about children’s needs have changed throughout history
also changed the roles of parents

6. Objective
Describe changes affecting families today.

7. Changes Affecting Families Today
Before the Industrial Revolution,
families lived in farming communities
families produced what they needed
families consisted of the immediate family plus extended family members
continued

8. Changes Affecting Families Today
During the Industrial Revolution,
families moved to cities, often separated from one another
individuals earned a wage and purchased what they needed
families shifted to dependence on immediate family only

9. What Do You Think?
As families moved to cities, they lost the proximity of extended family members.
How do you think current technology helps families stay in contact across long distances?

10. Objective
Explain the role of families in today’s society.

11. Changes in Family Roles
Before the 1700s,
parents met the physical needs of children
survival and character development were key
children worked to help support the family by four to seven years of age
continued

12. Changes in Family Roles
In contemporary families,
childhood is seen as a special time
most children are not required to contribute to the family income
loving care and support of children is seen as necessary
community support is available to parents

13. What Do You Think?
Consider popular media such as magazines, television, the Internet, and feature movies.
What are some examples of the representation of childhood in the media?

14. Objective
List the main advantages and disadvantages of living in different types of families.

15. Family Types Nuclear families Single-parent families Extended families
Stepfamilies
Families with adopted children
Foster families
Guardians

16. Nuclear Families
A father, a mother, and their biological child or children who live together form a nuclear family
This type of family exists in most societies
continued

17. Nuclear Families Disadvantages
other relatives do not live in the home to provide additional support
there is less exposure to other adults
children often lack opportunity to learn skills from the older generation
parents may not have a positive relationship
children could be exposed to family stress
continued

18. Nuclear Families Advantages
family members can share responsibilities to meet needs
children learn more flexible home and child care roles
children see how spouses should relate to each other

19. Single-Parent Families
Single-parent families are headed by one adult
The number of single-parent households is growing
continued

20. Single-Parent Families
Disadvantages
raising children alone is difficult
one parent often provides the bulk of care for children
single parents may lack support
continued

21. Single-Parent Families
Advantages
the bond between children and single parent is often strong
children of single parents are often more independent
single parents may share parenting duties through joint custody

22. Extended Families
In the extended family, more than two generations of a family live together
Common around the world
Less common in the U.S. than in the past
continued

23. Extended Families Disadvantages
so many people living in one space can cause stress
the needs of the group may outweigh the needs of any one individual
continued

24. Extended Families Advantages
children learn to interact with people of all ages
family history is more easily passed from one generation to the next
more caregiving and support can be provided within the family

25. Stepfamilies
Stepfamilies are formed when a single parent marries another person
Stepfamilies are common
continued

26. Stepfamilies Disadvantages
the instant relationships formed by a stepfamily lead to the need for adjustments
children must often manage two stepfamilies
continued

27. Stepfamilies Advantages
two-thirds of stepfamilies have good relationships
stepparents can also be good parents

28. Families with Adopted Children
Adoption occurs when a child of one pair of parents legally becomes the child of another parent or parents
Adoption legally ends the rights and responsibilities between a child and the birthparents

29. Adoption Agencies and Independent Adoptions
An adoption agency is licensed by the state to handle adoptions
may be state funded or private
In an independent adoption, a lawyer or physician works out the details between the birthparents and the adoptive parents
all independent adoptions must follow state law

30. Adoption Options and Rights
The laws of each state govern adoption options and rights
In all states, it is illegal to buy or sell a child for adoption (illegal market adoption)
continued

31. Adoption Options and Rights
In a closed adoption, the identity of birthparents and adopting family are not revealed
also called confidential adoptions
fewer closed adoptions occur today
Open adoptions involve some degree of communication between birthparents and adoptive family
continued

32. Adoption Options and Rights
The openness of the adoption refers to the information exchanged between birthparents and adoptive family
Open adoptions are now more common
All records are generally accessible to adoptive children upon adulthood
continued

33. Adoption Options and Rights
Adoption rights protect those involved in the process
In most states, birthfather has legal rights
State laws may permit birthfather to deny paternity

34. Adoption Issues Disadvantages
adoptive parents may have to transition to parenthood very quickly
problems can arise in the relationship with the birthparents
children may have questions about the adoption that are difficult to address
continued

35. Adoption Issues Advantages
children who are adopted generally have stable, happy home lives
most adoptive parents create a loving family that helps adopted children overcome any stress they may feel

36. Foster Families
Foster families are families in which adults provide temporary homes for children who cannot live with their birthparents
continued

37. Foster Families
Children often enter foster families because of problems in their birthfamilies
Every foster situation is unique
Foster families may have one or two parents
Foster families may include other biological, adoptive, or foster children
continued

38. Foster Families Disadvantages
foster children may be separated from siblings
children may need counseling for problems they faced in their birthfamilies
children may miss their birthfamilies
continued

39. Foster Families Advantages
foster families can offer a stable, secure home for children
the goal is to reunite children with their birthfamilies if possible

40. Guardians
A guardian is often chosen by the biological parents to take responsibility for a child in the event of the birthparents’ death or extended absence
continued

41. Guardians Guardians are generally someone close to the family
A child remains with a guardian until the child becomes a legal adult or the relationship is legally terminated 41

42. What Do You Think? Describe your idea of the typical family.
How has the typical family changed throughout history?
How have those changes affected children and parents?

43. Objective
Explain changes that take place during the family life cycle.

44. The Family Life Cycle Families change through the years
Most families change in similar stages that are called the family life cycle
beginning stage
childbearing stage
parenting stage
launching stage
mid-years stage
aging stage

45. Beginning Stage A couple marries and get to know each other
This stage lasts until a child is born

46. Childbearing Stage The couple starts having children
This stage lasts until birth of last child

47. Parenting Stage
The couple focuses on guiding children through the school-age and teen years
This stage lasts until children start to leave home

48. Launching Stage
The couple’s children begin leaving home to live on their own
This stage ends when all children have left home

49. Mid-Years Stage
The couple focuses on their marriage, planning their future, and becoming grandparents
This stage lasts until the couple retires

50. Aging Stage The couple retires and adjusts to this change in lifestyle
This stage lasts throughout life

51. What Do You Think?
Did your family of origin follow the stages of the family life cycle as outlined in the text?
Do you find the stages relevant to all family types?

52. Objective
Describe the major roles of parents.

53. Roles of Parents
Socialization
Nurturance
Guidance and discipline

54. Socialization
Socialization is the training children receive to help them learn to live in a group
Each culture has its own rules; children must be taught these rules
Parents are the people most responsible for socializing children

55. Nurturance
Nurturance includes the physical aspects of child care, such as feeding, dressing, and bathing children

56. Guidance and Discipline
Guidance includes the words and actions parents use to influence their child’s behavior
Discipline is the use of methods and techniques to teach children self-control
discipline is part of guidance

57. Types of Discipline
Power assertion occurs when parents use or threaten physical punishment (also called corporal punishment) or deny privileges
In love withdrawal, parents threaten children or suggest some form of parent/child separation
Induction occurs when parents discipline by reasoning and explaining

58. Objective
Define three parenting styles.

59. Parenting Styles
In the authoritarian parenting style, the main objective is to make children completely obedient
Permissive parents give children almost no guidelines or rules
When using the democratic (authoritative) style, parents set some rules, but allow children some freedom

60. What Would You Do?
Imagine that a parent of twin two-year-old boys asked your advice on discipline
How would you describe each of the three parenting styles, including the pros and cons and examples of each?

61. Objective
List characteristics of healthy families.

62. Characteristics of Healthy Families
Spouses marry with shared values
values are used to select goals
All members of a family are individuals
A mutual commitment is crucial
Each member depends on the others
Healthy families communicate
Members support one another’s efforts

63. What Do You Think?
What are some examples of individuality within a healthy family?
How can a family share goals while still respecting the individuality of its members?

64. Objective
Describe ways that culture influences the family.

65. Cultural Influences on Families
The U.S. is a nation with great cultural diversity
culture affects each family differently
continued

66. Cultural Influences on Families
Families define their culture
families often identify their culture in terms of their origin, ancestors, or region of origin
families may identify themselves through their country of origin
language may also be used as an identifier
continued

67. Cultural Influences on Families
The role of family varies by culture
family can include only the immediate family or the extended family as well
in cultures with a group orientation, family is most important
in cultures with an individual orientation, the focus is on each person more than on the family as a group

68. What Do You Think?
Do you think institutions in the U.S. such as public schools or social service agencies operate more under a group orientation or an individual orientation?
How could society be more supportive of both forms of family orientation?

69. Multicultural Families
In multicultural families, two or more cultural groups are represented
Everyone in a multicultural family needs to learn about the culture of its members
continued

70. Multicultural Families
Strength in multicultural families
parents have strong cultural identities
family talks about cultural issues
parents and children show equal respect for each culture
all cultures are celebrated

71. What Would You Do?
Imagine that American parents from a European country of origin wish to adopt a child from Malaysia
What advice would you give the parents? Devise some specific strategies that could be used to help the child learn about his or her culture.

73. Glossary of Key Terms
adoption. Process by which a child of one pair of parents legally becomes the child of other parents (or parent).
adoption agency. State-funded or private agency licensed by the state to handle adoptions.
authoritarian. Parenting style in which the main objective is to make children completely obedient.

74. Glossary of Key Terms
closed adoption. Adoption in which the identity of the birthparents and adopting family are not revealed.
cultural diversity. Having more than one culture represented.
democratic. Parenting style in which parents set some rules, but allow children some freedom; also called authoritative.

75. Glossary of Key Terms
discipline. Use of methods and techniques to teach children self-control.
extended family. Family in which several generations live together.
family life cycle. Series of six stages that many families go through over the years.
foster families. Families in which adults provide temporary homes for children who cannot live with their birthparents.

76. Glossary of Key Terms
guardian. Person often chosen by a child’s biological parents to take responsibility for the child in the event of the birthparents’ death or extended absence.
guidance. Words and actions parents use to influence their children’s behavior.

77. Glossary of Key Terms
illegal market adoption. Adoption in which a child is bought or sold. This is against the law in all states.
independent adoption. Adoption in which a person, such as a lawyer or physician, works out the details between the birthparents and adoptive parents.
induction. Technique in which parents discipline by reasoning and explaining.

78. Glossary of Key Terms
joint custody. Term used to describe the shared legal right of parents who are not married to provide care and make decisions about their children’s lives.
love withdrawal. Discipline techniques in which parents threaten children with being unloved or suggest some form of parent/child separation.

79. Glossary of Key Terms
multicultural families. Families with members from two or more cultural groups.
nuclear family. Family consisting of a father, a mother, and their biological child or children who live together.
nurturance. Providing all aspects of care for a child, which includes meeting physical, mental, and social-emotional needs.

80. Glossary of Key Terms
open adoption. Adoption that involves some degree of communication between the birthparent(s) and adoptive family.
permissive. Parenting style in which parents give children almost no guidelines or rules.
power assertion. Discipline technique in which parents use or threaten to use some form of physical punishment.

81. Glossary of Key Terms
single-parent families. Families headed by one adult.
stepfamilies. Families formed when a single parent marries another person.