Click on the image above to download a complete copy of this publication in PDF format. Download a free copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader. As we know from observing the world around us, this definition applies to families that come in many shapes and sizes. Families have never been all alike, yet changes in family arrangements are happening in unprecedented numbers. The parents of some children are married and others are not.
Some children live with adults of the same sex filling the parenting roles.
Also, couples without children can be a family. The reasons for these many different family arrangements cannot be easily explained, however we do know that the importance of families will not diminish. This guide is written for parents to help them talk to their children about what really makes a group of people a family. It also serves to assure parents that there are many different ways to establish a happy, healthy family regardless of the family s structure. Parents can help children understand that families are not alike in many ways.