Family Lifeprepared by

Josh Thompson, Ph.D.Assistant Professor

Early Childhood Education Texas A&M University-Commerce

http://faculty.tamu-commerce.edu/ jthompson/

Family LifeHow does

family structure affect

Child Development

and Early Childhood

Education?

What is a Family?

In its most common form, a family is a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman

What is a Family?

In its most common form, a family is a lifelong commitment between a man and a woman who mate, give birth, feed, shelter, and nurture their children until they reach maturity

Whence Family?

• biological beginningstakes two to procreate

• evolutionary distinctionsother species rarely form families,

only 3% of birds and mammals

• economic advantagedivision of labor

Whence Family?

• certainty of progenymonogamy generational perspective

• spiritual attributescreation storiesmythsartistic

Whence Family?

Child’s point of view • basic needs• communication• attachment• belonging• love• meaning & purpose

Prototypes

Is there an original model, an example, an expected form within children, a pattern resident within the child which maps to the world without?

Prototypes

What would a “prototypical” family look like?

Prototypes

What would a “prototypical” family look like, to you?

Whence?

Where does your vision of the “prototypical” family come from?– Your own family of origin?– Current family status?– Your experience and

observation of functional family systems?

Diverse family systems

• Traditional• Single parents• Divorced parents• Employed parents• Bi-racial • One-child• Large families• Gay & lesbian parents• Blended• Extended

Affect

In your opinion . . . –how does family structure affect Child Development?

–how does family structure affect a child’s early education?

Affect

How does/will your opinion affect, or even prejudice, your ability to teach children from diverse family structures?

Family LifeHow does

family structure affect

Child Development

and Early Childhood

Education?

Family Lifeprepared by

Josh Thompson, Ph.D.Assistant Professor

Early Childhood Education Texas A&M University-Commerce

http://faculty.tamu-commerce.edu/ jthompson/