Week Seven Post Two

I found the section on family function and family structure to be very interesting. I’ve heard the terms of family structure and family function but never knew there exact definitions. Family structure is defined as the legal and genetic relationships among relatives living in the same home. Family function is defined as the way a family works to meet the needs of it’s members. It is said that function is more important than structure in every developmental period, because no matter what the structure, people need family love and encouragement. There are five requirements for school-age children to have a successful family function.  First on the list are material necessities, which is food, clothing and shelter being provided by the family. The second need is learning. Families support, encourage and guide education. Children excel in school when their families influence them to. The third need is self-respect. Children become self-critical and socially aware and when families provide opportunities for success the child will have better respect towards their own self. The fourth need is peer relationships. When families welcome friendships into the home it teaches school age children the importance of establishing relationships with peers. The fifth need is harmony and stability. When families provide protective, predictable routines it teaches children the importance of stability in life. Some children resist change due to this, but if the family can combine stability and change the child should be quick to adjust. Families have a huge effect on he development of a person. The way people grow up and live is the only thing they know until they leave home and start their own life. To reduce psychological problems at a young age, providing a child with a fully functional family definitely helps.