Families are where we connect ourselves in relationships to past, current, and future generations.

Our families are where we experience our biggest triumphs and our deepest vulnerabilities—and they
are where we have the greatest potential to do good. We believe the family is divine in nature and that
God designates it as the fundamental building block of society, both on earth and through eternity. As
such, it becomes the foundation for civilization and a sanctuary for the individual. It is where we learn
the social graces of loyalty, cooperation, and trust. It is where we learn to love ourselves and each other,
to bear one another’s burdens, to find meaning in our life and to give purpose to others’ lives, and to
feel the value of being part of something greater than ourselves.

CLOSELY KNIT- bound together by intimate social or cultural ties or by close economic or political ties.

Nuclear families, which include a mother, father and children living in the household, are what many
consider 'typical.' However, as the social landscape changes, so do ideas and perceptions of different
family types. Every family structure has advantages and disadvantages.

Family Structures
The following types of families exist today, with some families naturally falling into multiple categories.
For example, a single parent family who lives in a larger, extended family. While these types of families
are distinct in definition, in practice the lines are less clear.

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 due to the financial ease of two adults. According to U.S. Census
data, almost 70 percent of children live in a nuclear family unit.

Single Parent Family

The single parent family consists of one parent raising one or more children on his own. Often, a single
parent family is a mother with her children, although there are single fathers as well. 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 help 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. The childless family is sometimes the "forgotten family," as it does not meet the
traditional standards set by society. Childless families consist of a husband and wife living and working
together. Many childless families take on the responsibility of pet ownership or have extensive contact
with their nieces and nephews as a substitute for having their own children.

Stepfamily

Over half of all marriages end in divorce, and many of these individuals choose to get remarried. This
creates the stepfamily which involves two separate families merging into one new unit. It consists of a
new husband and wife and their children from previous marriages or relationships. Stepfamilies are
about as common as the nuclear family, although they tend to have more problems, such as adjustment
periods and discipline issues. Stepfamilies need to learn to work together and also work with their exes
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 need to go
back to work or find additional sources of income to help raise their grandchildren.

PEERS

We all belong to several peer groups at the same time. For example, a child may be a member of a
soccer team, a popular clique in school, and a member of the band. Each peer group has its own rules,
expectations for behavior, and hierarchies. As such, the peer groups that we belong to influence our
behaviors and beliefs.

Influences on Socialization

Peer groups play an important role in socialization, especially in childhood and adolescence. Peer groups
are the only form of socialization that is not under the control of adults. Peer groups provide children
with the opportunity to be a part of relationships that are productive and beneficial for all parties
involved. They also allow children to create relationships with one another without being under adult
control.

Peer groups foster self-exploration. Children begin to make decisions for themselves and participate in
activities that allow them to express who they are. Children are also able to experience and work
through conflicts with their peers, cooperate with each other, and compete with each other in peer
groups. Peer groups are healthy when they exert a positive influence, disastrous when rejection or
negative pressure is involved
SCHOOLS

Manifest Function: Socialization

Socialization refers to a process by which individuals acquire a personal identity and learn the
knowledge, language, and social skills required to interact with others. Again, students don't only learn
from the academic curriculum prepared by teachers and school administrators. They also learn social
rules and expectations from interactions with others. Students in America receive rewards for following
schedules and directions, meeting deadlines, and obeying authority. They learn how to avoid
punishment by reducing undesirable behaviors like offensive language. They also figure out that to be
successful socially, they must learn to be quiet, to wait, to act interested even when they're not, and to
please their teachers without alienating their peers.

Manifest Function: Cultural Transmission

Besides socialization, another significant manifest function of school is the transmission of cultural
norms and values to new generations. Schools help to mold a diverse population into one society with a
shared national identity and prepare future generations for their citizenship roles. Students are taught
about laws and our political way of life through civic lessons, and they're taught patriotism through
rituals such as saluting the flag. Students must also learn the Pledge of Allegiance and the stories of the
nation's heroes and exploits. Because America is a capitalist nation, students also quickly learn the
importance of both teamwork and competition through learning games in the classroom as well as
activities and athletics outside the classroom.

Latent Functions of Schools

In addition to manifest functions like socialization and culturization, schools also serve latent functions
in society. A latent function is a function that people are not aware of or doesn't come to mind straight
away and usually is not intended. For example, schools often play a matchmaker function: they put
together individuals of similar ages and backgrounds, and this results in many of us finding romantic
partners and mates in primary, secondary, or post-secondary school.