Chapter 3
Family Trends Today
49
3-2
Some families may skip or even repeat stages of the family life cycle.
The Family Life Cycle
The Beginning StageeSt
A couple marries and starts to build their lives
together. This stage lasts until the couple has
a child.
The Launching Stage
The couple’s children leave home to live on their
own. This stage ends when the last child moves
out of the family home.
The Childbearing
StageTyler
The couple has their fi rst child. This stage ends
when the couple has their last child.
The Mid-years Stage
The couple often faces an empty nest and may
redefi ne priorities. This stage lasts until retirement.their
The Parenting Stage
The couple raises their children through the
school-age and teen years. This stage continues
until children begin to leave home.
The Aging Stage
The couple retires and focuses on
interests. This stage lasts through the
death of one and then the other
spouse.eventualtheir
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86 Part 1
Foundations of Human Developmentnt
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher
4-9
(Continued.)
An Overview of the Highlights in Prenatal Development*
Third Trimester
Seventh month
• Lungs are more mature and can support baby outside
the uterus
• Brain and nervous system are much more mature
• Bones are more developed, but are still soft and
flexible
• Skin is wrinkly and covered with a thick, white protec-
tive coating called
vernix
• Fatty tissue begins developing under skin surface
• Baby kicks and stretches
• Outline of baby’s fist, foot, or head may be seen out-
side mother’s body when baby moves
• By end of month, baby is about 16 inches long and
weighs about 3 pounds
Eighth month
• Baby’s growth continues
• Brain growth is rapid
• Skin is not wrinkled, and color is pink
• Baby kicks strongly, but has less room to move
• Baby may move into a head-down position in the
uterus
• By end of month, baby is about 18 inches long and
weighs about 5 pounds
Ninth month
• Baby gains about ½ pound weekly
• Lungs are mature
• Downy hair (laguno) that covers the skin disappearspre-to
• Baby positions itself into a head-down position
pare for birth
• By birth, an average baby is about 20 inches long and
weighs about 7 to 8 pounds
*Images are not necessarily true-to-size.
Presents Concepts Simply
The F
The
Beginnin
g
age e
A couple marries and star
ts to
build their together. This stage last
s until the couple
a chi ld.
Th
Ch
Tyler Olson/Shutterstock
Developme
of the Highli
h
196 Part 2
Stages of Human Growth and Development
Peer leaders often dominate in middle childhood. Children informally
choose leaders of their peer group based on a number of criteria. Often, leaders
are the children who have the new ideas or the newest toys. Attractiveness in
physical appearance is prized. Outgoing children tend to be chosen as informal
leaders. Children who mature early also tend to be chosen as social leaders dur-
ing this stage. On a positive note, children who are kind and confident are often
informal leaders. At the same time, those who fail to fit in are often included.
This is painful as children are reminded of their faults or
differences.not
By the latter years of middle childhood, children highly value friendships
with peers. Friendships are often formed with other children from the same
neighborhood or school. Although they may be more interested and aware of the
opposite sex, friendships are still most commonly with the same gender.
Single-Gender Classrooms
Kayley is looking forward to beginning third grade at a new school. After a rough second grade year,
Kayley’s parents decided to enroll her in an all-girls school in a nearby town. Why was second grade
rough? Kayley had a hard time concentrating. The friendship “clubs” kept changing and she often came
home distraught over whether she was “in or out” of the most popular recess club. A boy had been picking
on her on the school bus despite efforts to have the bus driver oversee their
interactions. Kayley’s parents
felt she would do better academically with less distractions and stress.
• Have you ever attended a single-gender school such as an all-girls or all-boys school? If so, describe
the school.
• If given the opportunity, would you choose to attend a single-gender school? Why or why not? Does
your reasoning lean more toward social or academic factors? What might your reasoning say about
the culture in which you live?
• If not given the choice, how might your attendance at a single-gender school benefit you? How might
it be detrimental to you?
Case Study
Monkey Business
Images/Shutterstock.comriddles,
8-26
Peers are important for transmitting informal knowledge, fads, jokes,
and other information.
Case Study
Illustrates chapter
concepts with real-life
scenarios and follow-up
questions.
Tables and Charts
Easy-to-understand tables and
charts clarify the concepts
presented in the text.