Family Forms & Communication

1. Family Forms & Communication

2. Family Life Cycle Childbearing Family 0-2 1/2 years old Leaving Home Family with Preschoolers 2 ½ - 6 yrs Empty Nest Launching Center Parenting marriage Retirement Independence Family with School Children 6 -13 yrs old Parenting adolescents 14-20 yr old

3. Family Life Cycle • Stage 1: Beginning Family • The married couple establish their home but do not yet have children. • Stage 2: Childbearing Family • From the birth of the first child until that child is 2 ½ years old. • Stage 3: Family with Preschoolers • When the oldest child is between the ages of 2 ½ and 6. • Stage 4: Family with School Children • When the oldest child is between the ages of 6 and 13.

4. Family Life Cycle Continued... • Stage 5: Family with Teenagers • When the oldest child is between the ages of 13 and 20. • Stage 6: Launching Center • From the time the oldest child leaves the family for independent adult life till the time the last child leaves. • Stage 7: Empty Nest • From the time the children are gone till the marital couple retires from employment. • Stage 8: Aging Family • From retirement till the death of the surviving marriage partner.

5. Independence • Most critical stage • Support yourself emotionally, physically, socially, and financially • Learn who you are outside of your family • Develop intimate relationships • Responsible for your own health • Establish yourself in your career • Qualities developed: Trust, morals, work ethic, identity

6. Coupling Stage • Finances • Lifestyle • Recreational activities or hobbies • Relationships with in-laws • Friendships • Putting another person’s needs before your own • Qualities developed: advanced interpersonal communication, problem-solving skills

7. Parenting: Babies through Adolescents • Babies: • Qualities Developed: caring for another person, balancing time and finances • Young Children: • Qualities Developed: adjusting space to make room for children, taking on parenting roles, caring for young children cuts the amount of time you have to spend with your spouse down. • School Age & Adolescents: • Qualities Developed: positive growth and creative exploration for your entire family, good communication, problem solving, mutual caring, support and trust.

8. Empty Nest: Launching Adult Children • Qualities Developed: • Adult relationships with your children • Refocusing on your marriage without children • Developing adult relationships with your grown children • Realigning relationships to include in-laws and grandchildren when your children have begun their own families

9. Retirement/Aging Stage of Life • Qualities Developed: • Maintaining your own interests and physical functioning • Exploring new family and social roles • Providing emotional support for your adult children and extended family members • Making room in the family system for the wisdom and experience of older adults • Reviewing your life and reflecting on all you have learned and experienced during your life cycle

10. Activity: Paper Plate Project • Be prepared to share with the class. • Please use the rubric to score your group before turning in your project! 

11. Effective Communication • How easy is it to communicate effectively? What can go wrong? • Video 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr1uS8KZbto • Video 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhe0KSGoUgc • Did these video clips show effective communication?

12. Communication DO’s • Listen • Look person in the eyes • Ask questions • Hear a person out • Resist distractions • Be open-minded • Assume Responsibility in a dialogue

13. Communication DON’Ts • Interrupt • Raise your Voice or Yell • Call Names or Label • Blame • Force or Threaten • Laugh at People • Assume you Understand • Make Snap Judgements • Offer advice when not asked for

14. Review Game • Play Kahoot to practice identifying the communication Dos & Don’ts. • https://play.kahoot.it/#/k/06dadb39-9c69-45cc-b6c7-899cd1fe99a9