PCD
Objective 1.01
Family Structures & Family Life Cycles
Chapter 3
The Developing Child
Family Structures
No one
family
is preferred
over another
Nuclear Family
 Husband
Children
+ Wife & Biological
Nuclear
Advantages
 Two
parents
support one
another and raise
the children
 possibly two
incomes
Disadvantages

None 
Blended Family
1. Man/Woman marry with children from previous
marriage
 Children that existed before marriage
 Step brother/sister
 Step Parents
2. Man/Woman have children after remarriage
 Children born into marriage
 ½ brother/sister
Blended
Advantages
Disadvantages
“Instant” family
 opportunity to be
around children
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Challenge of adjusting
to others’ presence
and needs
have to share parents
and family resources
conflicting
expectations of
parents and extended
families
Extended
 Family
with:
Grandparents
Uncles
Aunts
Cousins
(other
 living
relatives)
in the same home
Extended
Advantages
Disadvantages
May be extra
babysitters
 gain knowledge
from elders
 division of labor


Additional
authority figures
 more crowded
 physical care of
elderly
Single Parent
One
parent with child or
children
Single-parent
Advantages
Only one authority
figure
 less parental conflict

Disadvantages
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Demanding
No one to share
responsibilities with
Stressful
Possible lower income
No second gender role
model
Possibly fewer hours with
children
Adoptive Family
 Permanently
care for children
Legally responsible through
court of law
Adoptive Extended
Advantages

Solution for
couples who
cannot have
children
Disadvantages
Children may feel
rejected by biological
parents
 short transition period
to parenthood

Foster
Advantages
Disadvantages
Temporary care
 emotional issues
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Children may have
emotional and legal
issues from their birth
families
instability in placements
so frequent adjustments
required
competition with
biological children and
other foster children
Understand stages/variations of the family life
cycle and types of family structures
 Stages
of the family life cycle
 Beginning
family---newlyweds
 Child-bearing family---expanding
 Parenting family---developing
 Launching family---middle age
 Mid-years family---pre-retirement 55-64
 Aging family---retirement 65 and over
A family
can have
members in
more than
one stage
of the
family
life cycle
Family Life Cycle


Beginning
 Relationship/Marriage (newlyweds)
 Family Unit Established
Child-bearing

Couple adjust to parenthood
Parenting family
 Developing
 pre-school – teenager
 Parents work to meet children’s needs


expanding
Family Life Cycle cont….

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Launching
 Middle-age
 Children gradually leave home
Mid-years family
 Pre-retirement 55-64
 AKA: “Empty Nest”
 Children move out of the house
Aging family
 Retirement
 Reach the age where its time to retire
 65 & over
 Parents adjust to a slower pace of life
Life Cycle….
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Will continue and cycle back around
That’s why it’s called “LIFE CYCLE!”
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Cycle=round, rotating
GET IT????
Could the Life Cycle ever change??
What could possibly change the Family Life
Cycle?
The Family Life Cycle
Retirement
Couple stops full-time
work &
adjust to
having more
FREE TIME! 
Middle Age - AKA: “Empty Nest” Stage
Couple renews their relationship
& prepares for retirement.
Launching Stage
Children gradually
leave home
to support
themselves…
with the help
of parents.
Beginning Stage
Couple works to est.
a home &marriage
Expanding Stage
Prepare to adjust to Parenthood
Developing Stage
Parents work to
meet children’s
needs &
help them
develop independence
Variations of the family life cycle:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Individuals choose not to marry
Individuals whose spouses die or leave
Couples choose not to, or find they are unable, to have children
Families skip, overlap, or repeat stages, which creates new sequences
Families have additional children several years after first group of
children
Families decide to adopt after their children are in the launching stage
Families are involved in second marriages; two families blend and
stages are repeated
Families create extended families by bringing aging relatives into their
home
Mobile Families-handout
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Directions:
 Look in your notes to find the answers to the questions for the
Activities
Materials:
 Magazines
 Scissors
 Glue
 Variety of colored construction paper
 Cut:
 six circles
 eight large ovals
 six rectangles
Activity #1
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Beginning
Stage
Directions:
Cut 6 circles
Write 1 stage of the family life cycle on each
circle with a magic marker.
Find a picture to glue on the back of each circle
to show you understand the meaning.
Activity #2
I
choose to
be
single.
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Directions:
Cut 8 ovals
Write each variation of the family on each oval.
Find a picture to glue on the back of the oval to
show you understand the meaning.
Activity #3
Single-Parent
Family
S
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Directions:
Cut 6 rectangles.
Write the types of Family Structures on each
rectangle.
Find a picture to glue on the back of each
rectangle to show you understand the meaning.
Family Mobile

When you have completed your circles,
rectangles, and ovals you will put on your
creative hats and create a “Family Mobile.”
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We are open to ideas and suggestions???!?!?!
Opinions about Family
Structures-handout
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Directions:
Read each statement about characteristics of
families.
Mark whether you strongly agree or disagree
with each of the six statements
Ticket In/Ticket Out
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Directions:
You will receive a Ticket when you enter class.
 Write your description of your family on the ticket.
 Put in the PCD Orange box as you leave class when
the bell rings.
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