Chapter 2 Families and Parents 33
Advantages and Disadvantages
of Basic Family Structures
2-3 Each family structure has its advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages Disadvantages
Nuclear Families
Income is usually higher than in other family
structures, especially when both spouses
are employed, so more child care options are
available.
Both parents split the burden of parenting tasks.
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Rate of divorce is high. Families often have to
adapt to new family structures.
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Single-Parent Families
Children are likely to have more and earlier
opportunities to become self-reliant.
Children may be better adjusted and happier
with a well-adjusted single parent than with two
parents who are in conflict.
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Single parent carries the burdens of all the
parenting tasks. This can be overwhelming.
With less income, child care options are limited.
Single parent may expect too much from children
and give them tasks they are too young to handle.
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Stepfamilies
Family members often develop patience,
cooperation, and creativity in their new roles.
Various child care options are available. Father
or mother may stay at home or work at home
and take care of children. Center care is often
discounted for families enrolling more than one
child. Larger families with lower incomes may
qualify for not-for-profit centers or programs
funded with government monies.
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Roles, responsibilities, and schedules often
change.
Children may resent discipline by the stepparent.
Family members must learn to share attention and
space.
Income may be limited if several children are part
of the new family. One or both spouses may have
to pay alimony, child support, and possibly debts
of a former spouse.
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Extended Families
Children develop closer relationships with family
members of several generations and learn to
respect and appreciate aging family members.
Older family members can provide good child
care and parenting advice.
Older family members often help children
develop family pride and ethnic identity.
Children often have more emotional security.
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Instead of being able to help, elderly family
members may need care themselves. This may
put time, financial, and emotional strains on the
family.
Living space may be crowded.
Adjustments in lifestyle take time and patience.
With more adults in the family, children may have
problems in knowing “who’s in charge” and may
feel over-supervised.
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Couples Without Children
Without the challenges of parenting, couples can
focus more time and energy on their careers,
hobbies, and interests.
Couple often finds the spouse relationship more
satisfying.
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Unplanned pregnancy can be traumatic.
Long postponed pregnancy can result in
physical complications for mother and baby, and
adjustment problems for parents.
Couple does not have the rewards of parenting.
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