Here are some reminders as you use this module:

 Use the module with care especially in turning each page.

 Be reminded to answer the Pre-Test before moving on to the
Learning Module.
 Read and comprehend the directions in every exercises.
 Observe honesty in answering the tests and exercises.
 Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of this material.
 Try to finish a given activity before proceeding to the next.
 MODULE 11:

Family Structures and Legacies

Introduction:

Family structure is vital to the development of every individual because it affects the
family dynamics such as how family members behave and interact. It also facilitates
the families in providing basic economic and resource love, feelings of value and
competence, companionship, and shared values.

Objectives:

At the end of this module, you will be able to:

1. appraise your family structure and the type of care you give and receive,

which may help in understanding yourself better ,

2. make a genogram and trace certain physical, personality, or behavioral

attributes through generations, and

3. prepare a plan on how to make your family members firmer and gentler

with each other.

PRE-TEST

Read the following items carefully. Write

the letter of your answer.
1. It is known as elementary or traditional family.
A. Grandparent family
B. Extended family
C. Nuclear family
D. Single parent family
2. A family with two or more adults who are related through blood or
marriage, usually along with children.

A. Single parent family

B. Nuclear family
C. Extended family
D. Step family

3. A family with two parents who cannot have or do not want to have
children.
A. Step family
B. Childless family
C. Nuclear family
D. Grandparent family

4. It is a family that two separate families decide to merge.

A. Step family
B. Extended family
C. Nuclear family
D. Childless family

5. It is a family when grandparents raised their grandchild or

children.
A. Childless family
B. Grandparent family
C. Nuclear family
D. Extended family

LET’S SEE WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW

1. It is known as elementary or traditional family.

Answer: Nuclear family

2. A family with two or more adults who are related through blood or
marriage, usually along with children.

Answer: Extended family

3. A family with two parents who cannot have or do not want to have
children.
Answer: Childless family

4. It is a family that two separate families decide to merge.

Answer: Step family

5. It is a family when grandparents raised their grandchild or children.

Answer: Grandparent family

LET’S LEARN

Reading

There Are 6 Different Family Types And Each One Has A

Unique Family Dynamic
By Patricia Oelze

Introduction

Gone are the days when nuclear families (mom, dad + one or more kids) are
considered the norm in the United States. These days, different family types are not
only common but also much more accepted than they were in the past. It's not
uncommon to be raised by a single mother or be part of a mixed family. It seems more
uncommon to live in a household where both parents are happily married,
unfortunately, although many of those families do still exist.

What's even more interesting is that each different family type (there are six main
ones that people agree on) has a unique family dynamic. Learning about your family
type and thinking about how it affects your family dynamic can help bring you clarity
if you're currently struggling with family problems or going through a big shift in
your family structure. Looking at family type and dynamics can also give you a better
idea of the strengths and weaknesses that your family is likely working with.

Here Are 6 Different Family Types and Their Unique Family Dynamics:

1. Nuclear Family

Nuclear families, also known as elementary or traditional families, consist of two parents
(usually married or common law) and their children. Nuclear families may have one or
more children who are biological or adopted, but the main idea is that the parents are
raising their kids together in the family home.

Even though nuclear families seem to be on the decline, 2016 U.S. Census data shows
that 69% of children still live in nuclear families. Even though it doesn't always work out
that way, to most people this is the ideal family environment to raise children in.

Strengths of Nuclear Families:

Source: pixabay.com

 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
Nuclear families can be strong and successful, with both parents being great examples
for their kids. These kids often have many advantages over other families with less,
which can help them get ahead in life. However, like any family, nuclear families have
their struggles to face. For example, if parents shut out grandparents and other extended
family, chances are their support system will not be strong and getting through hard times
can be challenging.

1. Single Parent

Single parent families consist of one parent with one or more kids. In these cases, the
parent either never married, is widowed, or divorced. A paper by Ellwood, D.T., and
Jencks, C. (2004) talks about how single-parent families have been on the rise since the
1960s when divorce rates started going up (and so did births happening out of wedlock).
They suggest that these changes could be due to many different factors, from changing
morals in society to increasing arguments over gender roles.

Source: pixabay.com

A mother or father raising kids alone is not that uncommon anymore, and like any other
family type single parent homes have their pros and cons. Although fans of traditional
families believe that children need both parents, we can see that some single parent
families do well while others struggle.

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

Being a single parent raising kids can be hard. It can also be hard being a kid when your
parents are split up or if you grew up only knowing one parent. In this situation, families
need to make the best of what they have and rely on each other for love and support.

1. Extended Family

While most people in the U.S. would identify nuclear families as being the 'traditional'
family type, in different cultures extended families are much more common and have
been around for hundreds of years. Extended families are families with two or more
adults who are related through blood or marriage, usually along with children.

Source: publicdomainpictures.net

Typically, extended families live together for social support and to achieve common
goals. For example, parents may live with their children and their children's grandparents.
This gives the family the ability to provide care for their elderly, and in turn, the
grandparents may be able to help with childcare while the parents are at work.

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

In North America, extended families living together isn't that common, but it does happen
occasionally. 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 many family members living
together are always easy, though. There can be differences in opinion in extended
families, and some people might live this way because they obligated, not because they
want to.

1. Childless Family

Childless families are families with two parents 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.

Source: pexels.com

These unique families include working couples who may have pets or enjoy taking on
other people's kids (like nieces and nephew) for the day occasionally rather than having
their own. They could also be adventurous couples who don't feel like kids would be a
good fit for their lifestyle.

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

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.

1. 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 are sometimes looked down upon by people
who prefer the nuclear family dynamic, but they 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.

Source: pexels.com

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

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
stepsiblings as part of the family and form strong bonds.

1. Grandparent Family

The final family type and the least common of them all is the grandparent family. A
grandparent family is when one or more grandparent is raising their grandchild or
grandchildren. While uncommon, according to the American Association for Marriage and
Family Therapy, grandparent-headed families are on the rise. They shared that, "Census
data indicate that in the United States approximately 2.4 million grandparents are raising
4.5 million children." Why does this happen?

This situation happens when the parents aren't around to take care of their kids or are
incapable of properly taking care of their kids. For example, the parents might be in jail,
too young, on drugs, or (unfortunately) just not care. Thankfully, in these situations, the
grandparents step up and act as parents to their grandchildren. A lot of times the
situation isn't ideal, but they would rather take on the responsibility than see their
grandchildren end up in a worse situation, like foster care.

Source: pixabay.com

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

It can be hard for grandparents to raise their grandchildren. In most cases, they probably
thought they were done raising kids and might not have the health and energy to do so.
Still, when needed, grandparents will step up and do what's needed. Depending on the
relationship, children may become very close to their grandparents while others might
take advantage or rebel.

Conclusion

No matter what family type you identify with, each one has its strengths and weaknesses
or pros and cons. This is usually most clear to people who have experienced one or more
changes in family type during their lifetime, so they can relate to how different each family
dynamic can be.

Therapy (family or individual) can help those struggling with changes in family
type/dynamics. Online counseling services like BetterHelp can provide an outlet for
people who are going through a difficult time with their family.

Source: pexels.com

Other things that can help you adjust to a new family dynamic are an open mind and
some time. It's normal to be resistant to change at first, but it's okay to come around
eventually. If you're just interested in your family dynamic and working to get along better
with your family, learning how family types and dynamics work is a great start.

Source:https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/family/there-are-6-different-family-types-
and-each-one-has-a-unique-family-dynamic/
Activity 1:
Make your own genogram using the symbols and samples given. Please do not
forget to write your name.

Activity 2

Listen and write a reflection to the song by Miranda Lambert “ The House That
Built Me”.

The House That Built Me

Miranda Lambert
 I know they say you can't go home again.
I just had to come back one last time.
Ma'am I know you don't know me from Adam.
But these hand prints on the front steps are mine.
Up those stairs, in that little back bedroom
Is where I did my homework and I learned to play guitar.
And I bet you didn't know, under that live oak
My favorite dog is buried in the yard.
I thought if I could touch this place or feel it
This brokenness inside me might start healing.
Out here it's like I'm someone else,
I thought that maybe I could find myself
If I could just come in I swear I'll leave.
Won't take nothing but a memory
From the house that built me.
Mama cut out pictures of houses for years.
From 'Better Homes and Garden' magazines.
Plans were drawn, and concrete poured,
And…

LET’S SEE WHAT YOU HAVE LEARNED

Create an infographic on what you have learned in this module.

Examples are given below.

Source:https://www.slideshare.net/JeraldineCabayaran/filipino-family-52200350
Source:
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140922005911/en/Modern-
Families-Frontier-Financial-Professionals

POST TEST

Read the following items carefully. Write the

letter of your answer.

1. One of the advantages of nuclear family is

A: Financially stable
B: Emphasis on health and education
C: Focus communication
D: All of the above

2. In this family structure, the family members can become very close
A: Nuclear family
B: Extended family
C: Single-parent family
D: Grandparent family

3. Respect and care for the elderly are very important.

A: Extended family
B: Nuclear family
C: Grandparent family
D: traditional family

4. Children get the benefit of having two parents around.

A: Stepfamily
B: Single-parent family
C: Extended family
D: Nuclear family

5. Couples can feel isolated or left out when their all of their family or
friends start to have kids.
A: Single-parent family
B: Childless family
C: Nuclear family
D: Extended family

LET’S REMEMBER

 Nuclear families, also known as elementary or traditional families, consist of two

parents (usually married or common law) and their children.
 Single parent families consist of one parent with one or more kids.
  Extended families are families with two or more adults who are related through
blood or marriage, usually along with children.
 Childless families are families with two parents who cannot have or don't want kids
 A stepfamily is when two separate families merge into one. 
 A grandparent family is when one or more grandparent is raising their grandchild or
grandchildren. 

References:

Oelze P., December 18 2018, There are 6 different family types and each one has a
unique family dynamic, retrieved from
https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/family/there-are-6-different-
family-types-and-each-one-has-a-unique-family-dynamic/

Genogram templates, retrieved from

https://www.genopro.com/genogram/templates/