1. Types of family
There are many and varied types of family in the UK.
* Nuclear family – a family unit consisting of two adults and any number of children living together. The children might be biological, step or adopted.
* Extended family – grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, either all living nearby or within the same household, e. g. if a married couple lives with either the husband or wife's parents, the family changes from a nuclear to extended household.
* Reconstituted family – also known as a 'step family'. A family where one or both adults have children from previous relationships living with them.
* Single parent family – consists of a parent not living with a partner, who has most of the day-to-day responsibilities for raising the children. The children will live with this single parent for the majority of the time but may still have contact with their other parent.
* Same-sex family – since civil partnerships were legalised in 2005, the number of same sex families has been growing (same-sex marriage was legalised in 2014). Same-sex couples cannot conceive together, so their children may be adopted or be the biological children of one member of the couple. They may also be from a sperm donor or a surrogate birth mother.
Adapted from: “Family life”, BBC, https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z44dtfr/revision/1
Activity 1
Match each item in the first column to the type of family it belongs to.
1. The parents cannot conceive together.
a. Nuclear family
2. Several generations living nearby or within the same household.
b. Extended family
3. A parent not living with a partner.
c. Reconstituted family
4. A couple having children from previous relationships living with them.
d. Single parent family
5. Two opposite sex adults and any number of children living together.
e. Same-sex family
Explain in your own words the difference between a biological child, a stepchild and an adopted child.
What advantages and what difficulties do you think each type of family mentioned in the text has?
