The Many Kinds of Family Structures in Our Communities

Part 1

The Many Kinds of Family Structures in Our Communities*
Julie Olsen Edwards

*Based on the author’s work with Louise Derman-Sparks in Anti-bias Education for Children and Ourselves NAEYC 2009

Children grow up in many different structures of families, and, at different times in their lives, their family structure may change. For young children, the family in which they live is the “normal” family. It is when children enter group programs outside of their homes that they discover that there are many kinds of families and that the important adults in those programs may or may not think of the child’s family as “normal” or acceptable.  

One of the most important tasks for early childhood educators is to treat each child’s family with respect and help each child feel proud and strong about their family. It is important to learn about the many structures of families and to realize that different families may have quite different issues, needs, strengths and values. The following terms may help you to think carefully and respectfully about each family. These terms are not exclusive - several terms may apply to any family at the same time. It is important to find out right away which term/s each family uses to name itself, and to use the terms that the family chooses.    

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Part 2

 

Adoptive family: A family where one or more of the children has been adopted. Any structure of family may also be an adoptive family. 

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Nuclear family: A family consisting of a married man & woman and their biological children. 

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Single parent family: This can be either a father or a mother who is singly responsible for the raising of a child. The child can be by birth or adoption. They may be a single parent by choice or by life circumstances. The other parent may have been part of the family at one time or not at all.                           

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Gay or Lesbian family: A family where one or both of the parents’ sexual orientation is gay or lesbian. This may be a two-parent family, an adoptive family, a single parent family or an extended family.  

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Extended family: A family where Grandparents or Aunts and Uncles play major roles in the children’s upbringing. This may or may not include those relatives living with the children. These family members may be in addition to the child’s parents or instead of the child’s parents.

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Blended family: A family that consists of members from two (or more) previous families. Families may use a variety of terms for the various family members (Step Dad, Gary, Poppop, etc.) and have varying connections with extended family members.