Instruction:

● Work in groups
● Translate your group’s assigned part
● Input and edit directly on this page (using your student email)
● Deadline:
○ Morning class: 11:00
○ Afternoon class: 16:00

Types of Family Structures

Group 1: Nuclear family

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NUCLEAR FAMILY
The nuclear family is the traditional type of
family structure you might think of. This
family type consists of two parents and at
least one child. Society has long held the
traditional nuclear family in high esteem as
being the 'ideal' in which to raise children.
Today, we know there are lots of ways to
raise healthy and happy kids, but there are a
few reasons this type of family unit works.
Children in nuclear families often receive
strength and stability from the two-parent
structure (when one parent needs a break,
as we all do, the other parent can step in).
Generally, kids in these types of families
have more opportunities due to the financial
ease of incomes from two adults. In America
today, less than 46 percent of families live in
a nuclear family unit where both parents are
on their first marriage, according to the Pew
Research Center.
Group 2: Single-Parent Family
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Single-Parent Family
The single-parent family consists of one
parent raising one or more children on their
own (although they may have support from
friends and other family members not living
with them). This family unit may include a
single mother with her children, a single dad
with his kids, or a single person with their
kids.
The single-parent family is the biggest
alteration society has seen in terms of the
changes in family structures. One in four
children is born to a single mother,
according to Pew. Single-parent families are
often 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.
Group 3: Extended Family
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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.
What's nice about extended families is
how close they can be and how they give
each other a lot of support. That doesn't
mean that so much family living together is
always easy, though. There can be
differences in opinion in extended families,
and some people might live this way
because they are obligated, not because
they want to.
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.
Group 4: Childless Family
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Childless Family
Childless families are families with two
partners who cannot have or don't want
kids. In the world of family types and
dynamics, these families are often forgotten
or left out (even though you can still have a
family without children). In the past,
growing up, getting married, and having
children was the norm, but in today's world,
more people are choosing to postpone
having children or deciding not to have any.
The decision of whether to have kids is a
difficult and highly personal one. Having kids
isn't for everyone, and some families do
great without them. Still, it's important to
remember that some childless families are
not childless because they want to be. Be
kind before you assume about someone's
family unit, as a number of people may be in
a childless family due to infertility, or have
sensitivity regarding the topic of children in
general.
New Group: Stepfamily
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Stepfamily
A stepfamily is when two separate families
merge into one. This can go several different
ways, like two divorced parents with one or
more children blending families, or one
divorced parent with kids marrying someone
who has never been married and has no
kids.
Like single-parent families, step-families
have become more common over the years.
Like all these different family types,
stepfamilies also have a unique set of
strengths and weaknesses that they need to
deal with.
Going from a nuclear or single parent family
to a stepfamily can be a tough transition. It
can be hard letting new people into your
family dynamic, especially welcoming in a
whole other family. Over time though, some
children will come to accept their
stepparents and step-siblings as part of the
family and form strong bonds.