Title: Identify family relationships and responsibilities over the lifespan.
Course: Family Relations (19259-36) > Section: Analyzing the Significance of the Family System

Identification should include, but not be limited to, transitions and stages of families across the lifespan and

- adjustment
- childbearing
- child-rearing/raising
- launching
- empty-nest
- aging.

Identification should also include

- describing the stages of family development common to many families
- examining the characteristics, concerns, and challenges of each stage of development
- listing the developmental tasks that are associated with each stage.

Process/Skill Questions:

Thinking

- How might death, divorce, or childlessness affect the family life cycle?
- What are some concerns of families at different stages of the life cycle?
- What stage of the family life cycle do you think would be the most difficult?
- What is the significance of mastering the skills and milestones of each stage of the family life cycle?
- What could be done to maximize an individual’s ability to achieve developmental tasks?

Communication

- What approaches could members of a non-traditional family structure use to communicate effectively?
- What is the importance of communication as a family progresses from one stage to another in the family life cycle?
- What might be the outcomes of good or poor communication between family members (e.g., between parents, between parent and grandparent, between parent and child, between siblings)?

Leadership

- What leadership skills would be helpful during the launching stage?
- How might leadership qualities help parents deal with the empty-nest stage?

Management

- What resources are available for explaining the stages of the family life cycle?
- What problem-solving skills are especially needed for the aging stage?
- What approaches would you use to successfully maneuver through the stages of the life cycle?