FAMILY DYNAMICS

FAMILY

An individual or a group of
people bonded by
marriage, blood, or other
means who have
established a household.
 6 DIFFERENT FAMILY TYPES AND THEIR
UNIQUE FAMILY DYNAMICS
1.Nuclear Family
 Also known as traditional
families, consist of two parents
and their children.
Strength:
• financially stable, both parents
usually work now.
• Children raised in a stable
parenting situation
• Consistency
• Emphasis on health and education
• Focus on communication
 Weaknesses
• Exclusion of extended family can lead to isolation
and stress
• Can struggle with conflict resolution
• Can become too child-focused, resulting in self-
centered children and families neglecting other
important things.

2. Single Parent
 consist of one parent and
children
 In these cases parent either
never married, is widowed or
divorced.
Strength:
•Family member can become very close
•Learn to share household duties
•Children and parent become very resilient

Weakness:
• families struggle to get by on the income, some
are on social assistance.
• It can difficult for parents to work full-time and still
afford quality childcare.
• parenting can be inconsistent, especially if kids go
back and fort between parents.
3. Extended Family
 are families with one or more parents,
children and grandparent or other relative

Strength:
• Things like respect and care for the elderly
are important
• More family around to help with chores,
childcare, in case of emergencies etc.
• Social support

Weaknesses:
• Financial issues can occur if parents are
supporting several other adults and children
without any extra income.
• Lack of privacy depending on the living
environment
4. Childless Family
 couple with no children
These families often forgotten or left-out

Strength:
• Typically have more disposable income
• No dependent to take care of
• Have more freedom to travel, go on adventures,
pursue different careers or education
• Couples get to spend more time together.

Weaknesses:
• Couples can feel isolated or left out when all their
friends/family start having kids
• If you like kids, you can feel like something is missing
• Infertility can force a family to be childless which can
be hard for couples
5. Blended Family
 two parents with children from previous
families; children together (or any
combination).

Strength:
• Children get the benefit of having two parents
around
• Children and their new siblings or step parents
can form strong bonds
• Benefit of having two incomes compared to
single parent families

Weaknesses:
• Adjustment can be difficult for parents and
children
• Parents can run into problems trying to
discipline each others kids.
• May lock of discipline or inconsistent.
6. Grandparent Family
 is when one or more grandparent is
raising their grandchild or
grandchildren.

Strength:
• Grandparent and grandchildren form a
close bond
• Keeps children from ending up in
foster homes or other situations

Weaknesses:
• Grandparents may not work or have
full time jobs, may struggle with
young children or discipline them as
they get older.
RED LIGHT COMMUNICATION

- Behaviors that stop effective communication from taking

place.
GREEN LIGHT COMMUNICATION
- Behaviors that encourage communication and positive
relationships.
1. “You” Messages

are often used to blame someone else for the way we feel accuse
someone of doing something.
This makes the other person
feel bad, makes them
Example: You make me mad defensive. Creates poor
You are dummy communication

“I” Messages
It is much better to express how you feel by using “I”
message rather than blame others for your feelings.

Example:

I am angry because you lost my comb

2. “Authority” Messages
this type of communication technique includes giving advice,
directing, forbidding and ordering or commanding. It doesn’t really
leave any room for conversation or two way communication example:
the communication stops when one person has finished. (their word is
final).

“Shared decisions” is a much more effective way of communicating.

Example: You: “I wanted to tell you why I didn’t get my homework
done last night:
Parent : “I told you that you shouldn’t go to the school and
work on the float. Next time I’ll just put my foot
down and wont let you go, and then you can get
your homework done on time
3. “Blaming” messages
is when a person will not accept any share of the
responsibility for the problem
Example: it is always someone else’s fault This is very common “red
light” technique because
people are hesitant to
admit their own mistakes

“Share blame” it is usually much easier to communicate when each

person feels better about the other.

Example: joe and sam are playing baseball in the backyard. Joe hits the
ball through Mrs. Holmes bedroom window. Sam could put all of the
blame on Joe since Joe hit the ball/ after talking it over, Joe and Sam
decide to go together to talk to Mrs. Holmes about the window. They
both agree to work for Mrs. Holmes in her yard for two weeks/
4. “Know-It-All” Messages
this is when a person tries to share his/her feelings and
problems with someone else, and the listener immediately tells the
speaker he/she knows “just what the speaking is talking about” and
doesn’t let the person finish. No matter what is said or told, the
listener already knows it!

“I Can Learn from You, Too” messages are received much more
easily and willingly.

Example:

you: “I didn’t have time to do my home chores last night”.

Older sibling : “Everyone has time to do what they want to do. Its
your own fault for not doing first things first.
5. “Tuned-Out”Messages
occurs when the listener simply doesn’t listen to what’s being
said. He/she is so engrossed in his/her own thoughts that he/she
doesn’t pay attention to what the speaker is saying. Often times the
listeners focus is on himself/herself to the point he/she doesn’t even
hear what’s being said.

“Tuned-In” Messages are when the listener is very attentive and

shows that he/she understands what the speaker is really saying.

Example:
Student: “I cant seem to do anything to please my mother
anymore. I don’t know whats wrong, whether its me or if she’s having
problem.
Friend: “Yes, your mother is really a nice lady. I wish she was my
mother.
6. “Put-Down” Messages
are used to put each other down. They tear down other family
members’ self-concepts and block the possibility of warm feelings. Even
when we are teasing, “Put-down” messages can hurt a lot.

“Build-Up” Encouring messages – it is far better to spend our energy

giving build-up encouring messages to other family members and to our
friends.

Example: Son: Oh no, Mom, where did you get that ugly dress? You’r not
really going to wear that, are you?
Summary: there are many ways of blocking communication
between family members. There are also positive ways of helping
communication between family members. Since we are in charge
of our bodies and our minds, we choose which type of
communication we use. The kind of messages we send to other
family members either helps or hinders the relationships and
atmosphere of our home.
Family tips and Activities
 Can organize discussions that addresses vacation planning,
arrangement for traditional family events and other family
activities.

Safety Plans
 Family members should meet to plan and discuss appropriate
courses of action in case of an emergency.

Resolving Conflict
 when conflict arise in families as they surely will-family
discussion can help resolve these issues.

Problem- Solving
 When family encounter situations that require problem-
solving, communication is critical for limiting the negative
effect on the family and for assuring that the family can learn
from the problem.