Chapter 13: Families
Learning Objectives
- Describe the purpose of families and types of family structures
- Describe how sibling relationships shape development across developmental stages
- Describe the complexities of parenting in shaping adolescent development and long-term well being
- Describe the impact of different parenting styles on children’s development
- Apply principles of operant conditioning to parenting and behavior modification
- Understand the factors that determine the quality of child care and the impact of quality child care programs on children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development
Functions of Families
The primary function of families is promote a harmonious and stable environment for living, including emotional, physical, and social aspects (Peterson & Green, 2009). Some families may only meet one category of those needs and neglect others. Parents should consider how it feels to live in the household. Is it stressful and conflict-ridden? Is it a place where family members enjoy being? Although it may not be obvious with young kids, familial circumstances can impact children’s’ intellectual development, social development, socioeconomic status, emotional stability, and many other factors as they grow older.
