GRADE 6 2020-2021

Family Structures

A family is made up of a group of persons living together and sharing with each other. There are seven specific types of family structures in society today.

Nuclear Family

The nuclear family is the traditional type of family structure. This family type consists of two parents and children. The nuclear family was long held in esteem by society as being the ideal in which to raise children. Children in nuclear families receive strength and stability from the two-parent structure and generally have more opportunities because two parents can provide more finances (money).

Single Parent Family

The single parent family consists of one parent raising one or more child or children on his/her own. This family may include a single mother with her children, a single dad with his kids, or a guardian with their kids. The single parent family is the biggest change society has seen in terms of the changes in family structures. One in four children is born to a single mother. Single parent families are generally close and find ways to work together to solve problems such as dividing up household chores. When only one parent is at home, it may be a struggle to find childcare, as there is only one parent working. This limits income and opportunities in many cases, although many single parent families have support from relatives and friends.

Extended Family

The extended family structure consists of two or more adults who are related, either by blood or marriage, living in the same home. This family includes many relatives living together and working toward common goals,such as raising the children and keeping up with the household duties. Many extended families include cousins, aunts or uncles and grandparents living together. This type of family structure may form due to financial difficulties or because older relatives are unable to care for themselves alone. Extended families are becoming increasingly common all over the world.

Childless Family

While most people think of family as including children, there are couples who either cannot or choose not to have children. Childless families consist of two partners living and working together. Many childless families take on the responsibility of pet ownership or have extensive contact with their nieces and nephews.

Step/Blended Family

Over half of all marriages end in divorce, and many of these individuals choose to get remarried. This creates the step or blended family which involves two separate families merging into one new unit. It consists of a new husband, wife, or spouse and their children from previous marriages or relationships. Step families are about as common as the nuclear family, although they tend to have more problems, such as adjustment periods and discipline issues. Step families need to learn to work together to ensure these family units run smoothly.

Grandparent Family

Many grandparents today are raising their grandchildren for a variety of reasons. One in fourteen children is raised by his grandparents, and the parents are not present in the child's life. This could be due to parents' death, addiction, abandonment or being unfit parents. Many grandparents have to go back to work or find additional sources of income to help raise their grandchildren.

Sibling Family

A sibling household consists of children living by themselves due to the death of their parents or as a result of their parents abandoning them. The eldest usually is the most responsible individual and he or she works and provides for the younger children.

Answer the following questions.

Which family structure has one parent and children only?
Maxine lives with her mom, dad, aunt, cousins and grandparents. Which type of family structure is this?
Frank and his sister were living with their parents before they moved to Canada to live. Frank and his sister are now living with their grandparents.

(a) What type of family structure were they living in before their parents moved to Canada?

(b) What type of family structure is Frank now living in?

List 2 things that can happen to change a nuclear family to a single parent family.
Write a scenario in which a step family is created.

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