FAMILY TYPES v Children s growing competence and

FAMILY TYPES

v Children's growing competence and development is largely influenced by family life and family relationships. Children's wellbeing continues to depend on the quality of family interactions. v Children of today are growing up in a variety of households and different family systems. A number of these different families will be examined:

v Only child family v Large family v Single parent families

ONLY CHILD FAMILIES v Many couples are now choosing to have children who will never have any siblings. Literature suggests that these children are often viewed as being spoilt, selfish, lonely and maladjusted, however, research does not agree with this negative view. Only children appear to be bright and successful, self-confident, self-reliant, resourceful and popular with other children.

LARGE FAMILIES v Children of large families obviously experience different conditions from those in smaller or one child families. Children in larger families have the advantage of having relationships with siblings. These relationships and interactions gives them the opportunity to have companionship, emotional support and assistance while they are growing up. Children in larger families often experience degrees of rivalry and may need to fight for parents attention. The positive interactions that occur between siblings contribute to perspective taking, moral maturity, and competence in relating to other children

SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES v The number of one-parent families have become more common in recent years. There a number of varieties of one-parent families; those resulting from divorce, parents who never-married, as well as a widowed parent. In single parent families the other parent not living with the family may have little or no involvement in the child's life or may be highly involved.

TONGUE TWISTERS 1) Luke Luck likes lakes. Luke's duck likes lakes. Luke Luck licks lakes. Luck's duck licks lakes. Duck takes licks in lakes Luke Luck likes. Luke Luck takes licks in lakes duck likes.

2) If Pickford's packers packed a packet of crisps would the packet of crisps that Pickford's packers packed survive for two and a half years? 3) What a terrible tongue twister, what a terrible tongue twister. . . 4) How many cookies could a good cook If a good cook could cookies? A good cook could cook as much cookies as a good cook who could cookies.

5) Mr. Tongue Twister tried to train his tongue to twist and turn, and twit an twat, to learn the letter "T". 6) Through three cheese trees three fleas flew. While these fleas flew, freezy breeze blew. Freezy breeze made these three trees freeze. Freezy trees made these trees' cheese freeze. That's what made these three fleas sneeze. 7) Four furious friends fought for the phone.

8) Bobby Bippy bought a bat. Bobby Bippy bought a ball. With his bat Bob banged the ball Banged it bump against the wall But so boldly Bobby banged it That he burst his rubber ball "Boo!" cried Bobby Bad luck ball Bad luck Bobby, bad luck ball Now to drown his many troubles Bobby Bippy's blowing bubbles.