The family is a basic unit of the society that is responsible for supporting, caring for, and preparing children for adulthood. It is comprised of people related by blood, marriage or law. The family is usually the first environment of every child. It strongly influences a child’s personal development.
The family is the primary environment in which a child grows and develops. The family provides the basic material needs of food, clothing and shelter; and the basic psychosocial needs of acceptance, guidance and love. It helps us to define our role in society and prepares us for fulfilling those roles. The family provides such functions as procreation; it ensures the ability of the community to perpetuate itself etc. As children grow into young adults they may appreciate more fully, the importance of family in their lives.
There are basically two types of family; the nuclear family and the extended family.
The Extended family consists of an adult male (Husband/Father) and female (Wife/Mother), their children, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Their structure provides care and social support for dependent relatives and interdependency among all members of the family unit.
The Nuclear family includes husband, wife and their children. This type of family is more common.
There are other types of family structures that are becoming more common in these changing times. One emerging structure is the Foster Family. Many children have become orphaned early in life and have to be cared for. In addition, due to economic hardships, many relatives are unable to assume the additional cost of raising children other than their own and this makes foster parenting necessary. Where the Nuclear Family fails to provide the basic needs of a child, the Foster Family may be required. The Foster Family is comprised of adults acting as parents to children who may or may not be related to them.
Another family structure emerging is the Adoption Family. Orphans or those whose biological parents are unable to raise them are integrated into another family by legal action. In an adopted family, children are given the rights of a child born into the family and though parents receive no compensation as they may in a Foster Family, they are expected to exercise all the duties of natural parents.
Whatever the type of family structure, the following factors can enhance good family relationships
1. Effective communication
2. Taking responsibility for one another
3. Encouragement of positive values
5. Good conflict resolution strategy
6. Involvement of the child in decision making
7. Love and care for each other
8. Honesty
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