1. Families Grow and Change
The Family Life Cycle

2. Families Change
Human development: from the beginning of life, to the end, people develop and change. They go through different stages.
The family does this as well.
Family development: focuses on children and evolves in 3 phases:
The beginning family
The expanding family
The contracting family

3. Beginning Family The stage where steps are taken to start a family.
A partner is selected
Plan and prepare for children
Birth or adoption of first child happens

4. Expanding family This stage begins when a second child arrives.
Parents tend to be more confident on how to do things.
Challenges: more children cost more money, and require more time.
Therefore, parents must have good management, discipline and communication

5. Contracting Family
This stage is when the family becomes smaller. Older children become independent and move away.
These children will later start their own families and the cycle will continue.

6. The Contracting Family
The cycle
The Beginning Family
The Expanding Family
The Contracting Family