Today nearly half of all families do not meet the definition of nuclear family. We have stepfamilies; single-parent families; families headed by two unmarried partners, either of the opposite sex or the same sex; households that include one or more family members from a generation; adoptive families; foster families; and families where children are raised by their grandparents or other relatives. Each has its distinctive advantages and challenges.
The single- parent family is one of the "fastest growing family structures" of the past decade. This type of family tends to be temporary because the single parent tends to remarry or marries for the first time. The single mother, the most common form of this type of family, must cope with low pay, child-care problems, and the overburden of working and continuing to shoulder household and child rearing duties. Single-parent family is usually a mother and a child. A father and child combinations are less common. This family's functions are the same as monogamy without a legally recognized reproductive function. A successful single parent, particular a single mother, finds a way to balance a low wage with high day care costs and just living costs in general. They find adequate housing in a satisfactory neighborhood, which is difficult. The successful parent finds the time to juggle work, home maintenance, child care duties and have social interactions with other adults to avoid social isolation that occurs with most single parents. Sharing the cost of rent with a roommate may "alleviate some of the social and emotional isolation" that happens while also lessening the financial burden of raising children on their own.
The Nuclear family includes a husband, a wife and children. This type of family has the following functions are "procreative, economic consumption".
The Extended Family includes one or more nuclear families plus other family positions such as grandparents, uncles, etc. This type of family serves all social, educational, economic, reproductive and religious functions.
The Composite Family is two or more nuclear families sharing a common spouse, functions are normally the same as those of a nuclear family.
The Tribal Family is many families living in close proximity as a larger clan or tribe and usually has the same functions as those of the extended family.
The Consensual family (cohabitation) includes a man, woman, and children living together in a legally unrecognized relationship. This type of family serves any function it needs to. The commune "is a group of people living together sharing a common purpose" with assigned roles and responsibilities normally associated with the nuclear family. It can provide all functions with leadership vested in an individual, council, or some other organized form to which all families are beholden.
The Reconstituted (blended) family consists of a husband and wife, at least one of whom has been previously married, plus one or more children from previous marriage and/or marriages and can serve any function.
Socialization can be defined as the physical and psychological nurturing of children into adulthood or passing society's values on to new members beginning at birth. The family retains the greatest overall influence on young children. The social learning theory has pointed out the importance of modeling in learning for young children. Modeling is learning by observing other people's behavior.
(taken from http://www.healthychildren.org & http://www.associatedcontent.com/
Task 2. Look through the text “Additional Family Types Classification”. Complete the table “Advantages and disadvantages of every type”, working together with your partner.
| Family Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| The Single-parent family | ||
| The Nuclear family | ||
| The Extended family | ||
| The Composite Family | ||
| The Tribal Family | ||
| The Consensual family (cohabitation) | ||
| The Reconstituted (blended) family |
Task 3.Finish the following sentences based on the text you have read:
1. We have different types of families today such as …
2. The Single parent is fully responsible for many issues, he or she must cope with
3. A successful single parent finds a way to …
4. The Nuclear family has the following functions…
5. The Extended family includes…
6. The Composite family is …
7. The benefits of Tribal families are…
8. The commune is a group of people ….
9. The reconstituted (blended) family differs from the other types …
10. Socialization in a family can be defined as …