FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS

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FAMILY CHARACTERISTICS

• Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a
  tribe, call it a family. Whatever you call it,
  whoever you are, you need one.

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Discussion

• Where do our images of what family is and
  different family patterns come from?
• In what ways do media (TV, movies, celebrities)
  reflect the image of families/family patterns?
• What similarities/differences do you notice based
  on reality?
• What does this mean in relation to families,
• The grass is always greener on the other side of
  the fence.?

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Recognizing Family Patterns

• Chapter 3 sec 1 pg. 67-70
• Chart Directions
• Define each family pattern.
• Identify advantages and disadvantages of each
  family pattern.

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SINGLE PEOPLElive alone or with a roommate

• Advantages
• Freedom
• Independence
• Career oriented
• Self interests
• More Privacy
• No Children
• Less of a cost

• Disadvantages
• Can be lonely
• Lack of money
• Children

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COUPLES two people with NO childrenmarried/unmar
ried/cohabitating

• Advantages
• More focus on each other
• 2 incomes
• Privacy
• Shared interests
• Shared decisions

• Disadvantages
• Career conflict
• Decision making (who)
• Different levels of commitment
• Money

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NUCLEAR FAMILIESMother, Father and biological
children

• Advantages
• More people contribute to the needs of the family
• Shared responsibilities
• 2 parents
• Bonding between siblings

• Disadvantages
• Cost
• Battle for attention
• Time

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SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIESOne Parent and Children

• Disadvantages
• Time
• Energy
• Must take on all responsibilities
• Money

• Advantages
• One person in charge
• Stronger bond between parent and child
• More quality time

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BLENDED FAMILIES (Step Families)Husband, Wife,
Children from previous relationships

• Advantages
• New siblings
• Happy parents
• New parent
• New home

• Disadvantages
• Different parenting styles
• The advantages can also be disadvantages
• Step evil

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EXTENDED FAMILIESParents, Children and Relatives

• Advantages
• Important resources
• Support system
• Learn from
• Traditions

• Disadvantages
• Different personality types
• Money
• Different parenting styles
• Set in ways

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ADOPTIVE FAMILIESParents with children that are
not biologically linked

• Advantages
• Planned parenthood
• Loving, safe, secure home and parents

• Disadvantages
• Legal process
• Cost
• Time
• Adjustment
• History

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LEGAL GUARDIANS

• A relative or close friend of the family
• Appointed to take care of children if parents
  were to die or can no longer take care of
  children.

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FOSTER FAMILIESFoster parents take care of
foster children on a temporary basis

• Advantages
• Parents can be a positive influence
• Diversity
• Placed in a Home rather than a government
  institution
• Parents are licensed by the state

• Disadvantages
• Cost
• Time
• Space
• Can be a lot of children
• Attachment
• Temporary

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MANY VARIATIONS

• Families are varied as the people who live in
  them.
• It is not the FORM of Family that matters but
• Within the family, people gain the skills,
  strength, and knowledge that enable them to cope
  with advantages and disadvantages and build new
  families.

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REVIEWING FAMILY PATTERNS

• Chapter 3 sec 1 worksheet

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FAMILY PATTERNS PROJECT

• Pick ONE of the Family Patterns and create that
  FAMILY using magazine cut outs and pasting them
  on poster board.
• Individual or ONE partner
• Poster board must include
• Title (name of Family Pattern)
• Definition of Family Pattern
• Pictures (5-10 people/sets)
• Labeled
• 5 Advantages
• 5 Disadvantages

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FAMILY PERSONALITY

• Chapter 3 sec 2
• All the characteristics that combine to make a
  family unique give the family a personality.

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FAMILY PERSONALITY CONSISTS OF

• The atmosphere in the home
• The way the family makes decisions
• How members relate to each other
• The familys values and goals

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DIFFERENT FAMILY ATMOSPHERES

• The feelings and attitudes
• Relaxed and organized
• Casual and friendly
• Formal and distant
• Loud and displays affection
• Quiet and doesnt show much affection
• The atmosphere should allow people to make the
  best of themselves and each other.

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FAMILY DECISION MAKING

• Autocratic Style responsibility for major
  decisions is in ONE persons hands.
• Decisions about spending money, routines within
  the household and other activities
• Democratic Style decisions are made by more than
  one person (shared responsibility)
• Abilities are taken into consideration when
  deciding who will take care of what

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HOW MEMBERS RELATE TO EACH OTHER

• Interdependence a feeling of mutual reliance
• Independent Little reliance, do it yourself
• Dependent rely too heavily on others
• Need a good balance between independence and
  dependence

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FAMILY GOALS

• Goal something you plan to be, do or have and
  are willing to work for it.
• Based on the values and needs of every family
  member
• May be simple or complex
• Buying a house, volunteering, save for a trip,
  save for education

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• A family is like a puzzle with hundreds of
  pieces. So many different factors come together
  to make the whole. Each person brings a special
  personality to the group. The combination creates
  a unique result. Family personalities are as
  interesting as they are complex.

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ACTIVITIES

• Family Personality Case Study Handout
• Each family has a unique personality.
• Writing Activity Think about your familys
  personality.
• Describe the following
• The atmosphere in the home
• The way your family makes decisions
• How members relate to each other
• Your familys values and goals.
• 1 page
• Family Motto

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STAGES OF FAMILY DEVELOPMENT

• Chapter 3 sec 3
• The Family Life Cycle

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THE FAMILY LIFE CYCLE

• A basic pattern of family development that
  follows predictable stages
• Four stages

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1. STARTING AS A COUPLE

• Learn to think and act as a team
• Daily routines involve 2 people
• Learn to rely on each other
• Building skills
• Making decisions together
• Housing
• Furnishing
• Education/careers
• Money
• Children

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2. THE PARENTAL STAGE

• The Expanding Years
• New members are added
• Children are small
• Focus on home and family life
• Children require time and attention
• Leisure activities decrease
• Less couple time
• Heavy financial obligation

• The Developing Years
• Children grow older
• Enter into school
• More activities focus outside the home (busy)
• Teens learn independent skills
• Time is limited
• Shared responsibilities
• Launching
• The exit of children from the family home

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3. THE MIDDLE YEARS

• The children have grown up and left home
• Parents becomes a couple again
• Empty nest leaves parents feeling lost and
  without purpose
• New-found freedom

• Becoming grandparents
• Time of questioning
• Income pressures decrease or increase

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4. THE RETIREMENT YEARS

• Can be a time of travel, hobbies or relaxation
• Feelings of uselessness
• Slowing down
• Reflection on the past
• Willing to share the wisdom

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DISCUSSION

• What stage is your family in?
• Can families be in more than one stage of the
  family life cycle at the same time?
• Which stage do you believe would be most
  enjoyable and why?

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ACTIVITY

• Family Life Cycle Worksheet
• Read each situation. Explain which stage of the
  family life cycle is being described.

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UNIT ONE The Family Foundation

• Review
• Test