HUMAN DYNAMICS 2201 Conrad Fitzgerald Academy 2014 2015

HUMAN DYNAMICS 2201 Conrad Fitzgerald Academy 2014 -2015

UNIT 1: FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Define family In small groups decide on a definition for family and identify family structures As a class decide on a definition of family and decide on family structures

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Family Structures Nuclear families composed of two parents and their one or more biological or adopted children, living together – when the nuclear family was led by a male wage earner, it was the conventional family of the 1950 s, although now it is only one of many types of family.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Extended families composed of parents, children, aunts, uncles, grandparents and other blood relations living together, or not.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Blended or recombined or reconstituted families composed of parents who have divorced their first spouses, remarried someone else and formed a new family that includes children from one or both first marriages, and/or from the re-marriage.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Childless families consisting of a couple

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Lone-parent families composed of a parent, most often a mother, with a child or children.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Cohabiting couples, and common law marriages – family arrangements that resemble other forms, but without legalized marriage.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Gay or Lesbian Parents

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Activity Complete Worksheet List all structures of families that we have talked about. List TV shows or movies which portray these family structures. Why did you choose these shows.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Define “Ecosystem” How does a Family work as an ecosystem?

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM A family who spends time together and does things together, can be thought of as an ecosystem: Any change in any of the relationships or interactions within the family or in the family’s environment will directly or indirectly affect all members of that family ecosystem. For example, a young adult in a family comes home exhilarated by an encounter with a new friend. The teen will be much more interactive and approachable because of the good feeling he or she has. The good mood will have an effect on the other family members with whom she or he interacts, the response of family members to the teen will be influenced by the mood exhibited and thus the social environment of the family is positively affected.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM In small groups write a story about or role play a situation where the mood or attitude of one family member affects the family as a whole. Be sure to include how the situation affects each member of the family, directly or indirectly.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Discussion: Why might young people today be more likely to live with their parents today than did those a generation before?

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM The Basic Function of families: • Physical maintenance and care of family members. Within healthy families, children, adults and seniors all receive the care and support they need: food, shelter, clothing, protection and so on. Where families are not available or are unable to provide these services, family members suffer and substitutes, usually inadequate ones, must be found. • Addition of new members through procreation or adoption and their relinquishment when mature. Society renews itself through families. For this function, there is, literally, no substitute.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM • Socialization of children for adult roles. Families prepare their children for life. Most do a fairly good job of it, teaching skills, values and attitudes that equip them to learn, work, form friendships and contribute to society • Social control of members: the maintenance of order within the family and groups external to it. Within families, individuals learn positive values and behaviour and receive criticism for negative ones. • Maintenance of family morale and motivation to ensure task performance both within family and in other groups. In this regard, families provide the glue that holds society together and keeps it functioning. Beyond providing mere social control, families, through love and spiritual leadership, inspire their members and others to keep trying.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM • Production and consumption of goods and services. Families provide for their own by producing goods and services such as food, home maintenance and health care. As they strive to fulfil the needs of their members, they play a vital role in the national economy.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM How families contribute: For Physical Environment: recycling: composting, returning cans and bottles, returning catalogues; conserving energy and water: turning tap water off while brushing teeth, turning down thermostat, car pooling; safety: fire escape route, child-proofing the home, arrangement of furniture for ease of movement, properly using and maintaining household equipment and appliances.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM How Families Contribute: For emotional and social environments (these two are grouped together of similarities and overlap), responses may include the following self-esteem: providing praise, encouragement, recognition, and respect; providing leadership and direction: setting limits and rules together, providing positive guidance, participating in leisure and recreational activities, letting people have fun, engaging in family conferencing;

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM How Families Contribute: For emotional and social environments Social Support: supporting each other to get involved in extra curricular and community activities, sharing tasks and responsibilities, juggling schedules, providing privacy. communication and care: listening, family conferencing, handling disputes, respecting the opinions of others, being aware of financial obligations, appreciating of caregiver

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Activity: Develop a plan outlining what you might be able to do to contribute to the maintenance of a healthy family environment.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM What are some less common living arrangements for families? Why might these living arrangements occur?

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Things to discuss: 1. Reasons why grandparents and their children live in the same household 2. Age-related conflicts that exist between parents and children, between grandparents and grandchildren 3. How grandparents treat grandchildren differently than their parents do 4. How grandparents contribute to the family 5. Special needs of grandparents

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM In order to live, we all consume resources that are provided by nature. We use these resources on a daily basis, often without considering their use and consumption. Use the Ecological Footprint Calculator to calculate the impact your impact on nature and the environment.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM List 5 ways by which families can contribute to the sustainability of the physical environment. Classroom assignment: investigate ways to use resources wisely and efficiently. Prepare an informative poster or brochure that focuses on responsible efficient use of household resources.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Changes that have taken place in Canadian Families from 1961 -2011. See handout and class discussion.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM The Untold Story Women’s suffrage in Newfoundland Labrador Discussion -how does public policy (or lack of) affects the healthy growth and development and sustainability of family members? -Women’s role in the workplace (Changes that have occurred) - how does attitudes toward work and family influence our choices and our behaviours? .

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Journal Entry In a brief paragraph, discuss how the roles of two of the following are affected in families where both parents work: – the mother – the father – the children

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Class discussion -Discuss the roles you foresee for yourselves in the labour force and in the family. -Discuss the roles you foresee for your spouse or partner in the workplace and in the family. In each case, how are the roles different for the family setting(s) in which you grew up?

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM -What are your responsibilities to yourself? -What are your responsibilities to your family? Your community? List your responsibilities on the side of your paper.

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM 1. Is it ever OK to lie? If so, when? 2. How does it feel when someone lies to you? 3. What do you do when the person next to you lies and you know the truth? 4. When you lie and someone finds out about it, how do you feel? 5. How do you think the person who found out about your lie feels about you? 6. With respect to the issue of lying/truth telling, what responsibilities do you have to yourself? To others (parents, friends)?

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Resource Management -What do you think resource management is? -How might one manage a family’s resources?

FAMILY AS ECOSYSTEM Class Activity: Graph the amount of time (hours) each member of their family spends on the following 1) paid work 2) unpaid work (this includes school, schoolwork, housework and household chores, volunteer activities) 3) sleeping 4) recreational activities 5) transportation Students could analyze the data, draw conclusions and make generalizations.