Types of Families

A Nuclear family is?

• Consists of a parent who does not live with a partner and who has most of the day-to-day responsibilities for raising the child/children. The child/children live with this single parent most of the time, but they might still have contact with their other parent.

• A family unit consisting of two adults and any number of children living together. The children might be biological, step or adopted.

• Cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents who either all live close by or within the same household. For example, if a married couple lives with the parents of the husband or wife, the family will change from a nuclear to become an extended household.

• Two partners who live together. They either cannot or choose not to have children.

A single parent family is?

• A family in which a couple each has children from a previous marriage and possibly a child or children from their new marriage.

• A family that provides custody or guardianship for children whose parents are dead or who cannot look after them.

• Two partners who live together. They either cannot or choose not to have children.

• Consists of a parent who does not live with a partner and who has most of the day-to-day responsibilities for raising the child/children. The child/children live with this single parent most of the time, but they might still have contact with their other parent.

An extended family is?

• A family unit consisting of two adults and any number of children living together. The children might be biological, step or adopted.

• A family in which a couple each has children from a previous marriage and possibly a child or children from their new marriage.

• Cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents who either all live close by or within the same household. For example, if a married couple lives with the parents of the husband or wife, the family will change from a nuclear to become an extended household.

• A family that provides custody or guardianship for children whose parents are dead or who cannot look after them.

A Child-free family is?

• Two partners who live together. They either cannot or choose not to have children.

• A family that provides custody or guardianship for children whose parents are dead or who cannot look after them.

• Consists of a parent who does not live with a partner and who has most of the day-to-day responsibilities for raising the child/children. The child/children live with this single parent most of the time, but they might still have contact with their other parent.

• A family unit consisting of two adults and any number of children living together. The children might be biological, step or adopted.

A Foster family is?

• A family in which a couple each has children from a previous marriage and possibly a child or children from their new marriage

• A family that provides custody or guardianship for children whose parents are dead or who cannot look after them.

• A family unit consisting of two adults and any number of children living together. The children might be biological, step or adopted.

• Two partners who live together. They either cannot or choose not to have children.

A Blended/step family is?

• Cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents who either all live close by or within the same household. For example, if a married couple lives with the parents of the husband or wife, the family will change from a nuclear to become an extended household.

• A family that provides custody or guardianship for children whose parents are dead or who cannot look after them.

• A family in which a couple each has children from a previous marriage and possibly a child or children from their new marriage.

• Two partners who live together. They either cannot or choose not to have children.