You are on page 1of 3

Family structure in the United States

Nuclear family
Is a term used to define a family group consisting of a pair of adults (parents) and their children. There are differences in definition among observes, same definitions allow only biological children that are full-blood siblings, while others allow for a stepparent and only mix of dependent children including stepchildren and adopted children.

Extended family
It defines a family type that extends beyond the nuclear family consisting of grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all living nearby or in the same household. In same circumstances, the extended family comes to live either with or in place of a member of nuclear family; a family that includes in one household near relatives in addition to a nuclear family. In an extended family, parents and their childrens families may often live under a single roof. This type of joint family often includes multiple generations in the family. From culture to culture, the variance of the term may have different meanings.

Type of family
Family household: a unit that at least consist of 2 members of people who have marriage relation, blood relation, or adotion. One of the member as a leader of family household. Non family household: a person who lives alone or lives with other people that dont have any blood relation at all. Blended family: family that consist of a couple that one or two of the members have been married or have some children from their preious marriage. Traditional family: a marriage couple with their own children or adopted children living together in one house.

American familys habits


Family in America is very different from other countries, especially Indonesia. Majority of American families consisted of a mother and father with an average 1-3 children. This is very common in most families in America that mom and dad both work full-time at work while their children at school or daycare children. There are many families in the US that consist of a parent and children as a result of divorce or relationship outside marriage. In the most family in America as children grow into adolescene or graduated from high school, they leave home and

try to live independently. Many families, no matter where they are all going to get together and celebrate family occasions such as weddings, reunions, birthdays, thanksgiving, and other holidays.

What is it like to be a young person in the United States?


The typical American child spends six hours a day, five days a week, 180 days a year in school. Children in the US start preschool or nursery school at age four or under, kindergarten at five years of age. Schools provide American children with much more than academic education. More than 80 percent of all students participate in extracurricular activities, such as sports, student newspapers, drama clubs, debate teams, choral groups and bands. During their leisure time, American kids spend much time watching television, listening to music or playing computer games, but many also have after school jobs. One recent poll indicated that nine out of 10 teenagers polled said they either had a job or would like one. Child labor laws set restrictions on the types of work that youths under 16 years can do. Many youths work part-time on weekends or after school at fast-food restaurants, baby-sit for neighbors, hold delivery jobs or work in stores. Many youths are also involved in community service organizations or are active in church and religious-group activities. Other belong to youth groups such as Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts,were they learn about citizenship, crafts, arts, camping and other outdoor activities. Thousands of young Americans volunteer to help take care of the elderly, the handicapped and hospital patients, or help clean up the environment. While for most American children and teenagers life today is nearly free of serious conflict, young people are still under many types of stress. Peer pressure, changing family conditions, mobility of families, unemployment and problems at school may lead to use of alcohol or drugs, the refusal to attend school, running away from home, teenage pregnancies or juvenile delinquency.

Divorce
In todays society, divorce is a way of life for many people in the US. Millions of children have become part of family that divorced since 1972. Its estimated that more than of a third of the nations children affected by divorce before the age of 18. Single parent households are becoming more common and accepted in todays society. Onethird of all children living in single parent home today. A third of homes headed by women in

poverty. Sometimes a single parent situations cause problem between parent and children. It makes parent feel traped in a world of children, and trigger emotional problems for children, making situations more complicated.

You might also like