1. Families, Society, and You
Why Study Families?
Chapter One Section 1
Balancing Work and Family

2. Objectives Explain what you can gain by studying families
Identify the functions of the family
Identify skills that contribute to successful family life
Describe a helpful attitude to have when learning about families

3. Terms to Learn
Functions
Conflict resolution

4. Words for Thought “The family is one of nature’s masterpieces”
George Santayana
Do you think something as common as a family can be considered a masterpiece? Why?

5. Why do you think we should study families?

6. Why study families? Many times families are taken for ranted
Families are an everyday part of life for most people
By studying families you can learn why they are so important
Families provided many functions
Purposes

7. What are some functions of families?
Love and affection
Protection
Teaching Values
Economic support
Procreation
Guidance
Socialization
Recreation

8. Learning About Yourself
What you learn about families in this class will give you a better understanding of yourself
I want you to tell me what you know now about yourself
Tell me who you are
To do this I want you to create a collage that tells me who you are including information about your family

9. Building Your Skills Successful family living depends on these skills:
Communication Skills
Problem-Solving and decision-making skills
Management Skills
Conflict Resolution Skills

10. Skills Activity
Using your text book, in groups, read the assigned skill
You will read the section with your group and find the important information from your section
Each group member will write down the same information
The groups will be broken up and assigned to new groups where they will “teach” about their skill to the group
Once all students have taught their skill to the new group they will prepare a graphic organizer to present to the class

11. Communication Skills
Learning to communicate well can be the key to family harmony

12. Problem-solving and Decision-making Skills
Families must decided how to
Raise children
How to spend their time
How to relate to each other
The ability to use these skills well makes life go more smoothly within the family

13. Management Skills
Includes everything from managing family finances to household schedules
Learning to manage well helps bring order to family life.

14. Conflict-Resolution Skills
Approach to settling disagreements
React with your mind not your feelings
Practicing good conflict-resolution skills helps family members et along better with each other

15. Solving Problems Families today face many challenges Examples:
Work schedules may have to be meshed with family time
Cope with economic difficulties
Death
Drug problems
Abuse
Crime
Divorce
Remarriage
Few families, if any, are problem free
Even strong families have problems

16. Understanding Family Skills Activity
In groups complete the Understanding Family Skills Worksheet

17. How to cope with problems?
Remember, the problem can be solved
That change is possible
Figure out how to solve the problems
Where to get help
That a commitment to family comes first
That every family member contributes to the family

18. Responsibility: A Quality that Counts
Page 31 of your textbook
Read with your group
Answer the questions together
Make sure all group members have their name on the sheet that you turn in

19. Section 1 Review Quiz 1. List the functions of the family.
2. Complete this sentence in your own words: “Good communication is a basic skill needed by families because….”
3. Identify at least two important skills that family members need.
4. What are some challenges today that families may face?