Family Types

Advantages and Disadvantages

Family Types Family- individuals related to each

other biologically or legally. Nuclear family- made up of a

father, mother and one or more biological children.

Extended family- Includes relatives in a family: grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Family Types Single-parent family- one parent and

at least 1 child. Blended family - married couple and

each children from a previous relationship.

Adoptive family- Parents and one or more children that are permanently and legally placed in the home.

Foster family- serves as a temporary family for a child.

Nuclear FamiliesADVANTAGES An intact family is the basic social

unit. A mother and father support one

another in raising children. Children benefit from learning how

adult males and females interact in a happy marriage.

Can be more financially stable.

Nuclear FamiliesDISADVANTAGES Parents may disagree on how to

raise the children

Extended FamiliesAdvantages More opportunities to gain

knowledge from elders. More possibilities for assistance

with child care. Extra help with household,

discipline, and other parental responsibilities

Extended FamiliesDisadvantages Many authority figures More people to share the space Added responsibilities of elderly

individuals

Single Parent

Advantages Only one authority figure for the

children to answer to. Less parental conflict in the family.

Single ParentingDisdvantages Total financial responsibility Child care for young children can be a

challenge Limited time to spend with each child

due to balancing job and family. Lack of same sex role model for

children. Stress due to total responsibility for

family

Blended FamiliesAdvantages An “instant family” has formed. Opportunity to have brothers and

sisters. Someone to share responsibilities

for child care, finances, and parenting.

Blended FamiliesDisadvantages Challenge adjusting to presence

and needs of new people in the family.

Difficulty sharing parents and family resources.

Difficulty with accepting the new authority figure.

Adoptive FamiliesAdvantages Solution for people who can’t have

children. Adults provide a stable, loving

environment for a child in need of a family.

Adoptive FamiliesDisadvantages Children may feel rejected by

biological parents. There may be a short transition

period to parenthood. Period of adjustment and

acceptance is needed for older children.

Foster FamiliesAdvantages Supply temporary care for children

in need. Provide emotional support to the

child in trying times. Provide a family environment.

Foster FamiliesDisadvantages Children may have emotional and

legal issues from their birth parents. Frequent adjustments due to

instability in family placement. Competition with biological and other

foster children in the families.

Extended Family Challenges

Grandmother has retired and has moved into your house. What issues may come up that will need to be handled in the family?

Do multiple authority figures in a family cause problems? How should they be handled?

Single-Parent Challenges How does the lack of a male or

female role model affect the children?

How does the lack of a second income affect the family?

How are children affected by not spending as much time with their parent due to work obligations?

Blended Family Challenges

Are there ever times when the original family will need to be alone, without the inclusion of the new members?

How will the decision about how to spend holidays be made? What traditions will be maintained and what new ones will be adopted? Who will decide?

Should a blended family live in the original home of one of the families or should they find a new residence? Could staying in the old home cause problems?

Blended Family Challenges

The new parent has brought two new children into the family of three existing children. How should physical space be divided?

How should the discipline be handled? Who will discipline the children? Will both parents be responsible for disciplining all the children?

Who will decide upon issues such as household chores and responsibilities? How is the work divided?

What name will each new parent be called?

Adoptive Family Challenges Should adoptive families tell their

children they are adopted? Should adopted children find their

biological parents? If you adopted a child how would

you handle these 2 issues?

Foster Family Challenges When a child is placed in Foster

Care does it have an affect on the family?

Should Foster children be treated differently than biological children in a family?

Are Foster Care families a good thing?