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.
 Strengths of Nuclear Families:
• Financially stable, both parents usually work now
• Children raised in a stable parenting situation
• Consistency
• Emphasis on health and education
• Focus on communication
 Weaknesses Of Nuclear Families:
• Exclusion of extended family can lead to isolation and
stress
• Can struggle with conflict resolution
• Nuclear families can become too child-focused, resulting
in self-centered children and families neglecting other
important things
 Single Parent Family
• The single parent family consists of one
parent raising one or more children on
his own. This family 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 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.
Strengths of Single-Parent Families:
• Family members can become very close
• Learn to share household duties
• Children and parents can become very resilient
Weaknesses of Single-Parent Families:
• Families struggle to get by on one income; some are on
social assistance
• It can be difficult for parents to work full-time and still afford
quality childcare
• Parenting can be inconsistent, especially if kids go back and
forth between parents
 • The extended family structure
Extended Family 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.
Strengths of Extended Families:
• Things like respect and care for the elderly are important
• More family around to help with chores, child care, in case of
emergencies, etc.
• Social support
Weaknesses of Extended Families:
• 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
 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 two partners living and
working together.
Strengths of Childless Families:
• Typically have more disposable income
• No dependents 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 of Childless Families:
• 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
Step or 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.
Strengths of Stepfamilies:
• 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 of Stepfamilies:
• Adjustment can be difficult for parents and children
• Parents can run into problems trying to discipline each other's
kids
• May lack discipline or be inconsistent
 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.
Strengths of Grandparent Families:
• Grandparents and grandchildren form a close bond
• Keeps children from ending up in foster homes or other
situations
Weaknesses of Grandparent Families:
• Grandparents may not work or have full-time jobs, may struggle
with income
• Depending on their health, it may be difficult for them to keep
up with young children or discipline them as they get older