As children grow and develop, they establish relationships at home that help them feel part of a functional group. Through these relationships, they learn how to communicate and cooperate. They develop a sense of connection to the past and their heritage.
Successful connections lead to feelings of security and support.
The emotional health of family members involves creating an atmosphere that is safe and nurturing. No family is perfect. Sometimes families do well at performing these two functions, and sometimes they don't. The important thing is that family members try to work together to keep one another healthy. As children become older, they can take a more active role in family functions.