130 TYPES OF FAMILIES Childless families Childless families are families with two working partners who cannot have or do not want to have children. They may have pets or occasionally enjoy taking on other people s children, like nieces and nephews. They may include: aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives all living together. What is the difference between a step-sibling and a half-sibling? Entering a step-family can be hard for children, but over time they will come to accept their step-parents and step-sibling and build a bond with them. ONLINE RESOURCES Family types There are different types of families to be considered. Married nuclear family A married nuclear family is the traditional family with a father, a mother, and one or more children, who may be biological or adopted. The main idea is that the children are raised together in the family home. This type of family can be strong and successful because both parents can set an example for their children. Unmarried or cohabiting family An unmarried or cohabiting family is similar to the previous type apart from the fact that the two partners are not legally married. blended: mista childcare worker: educatore infantile court: tribunale foster: affidatario merge: fusione referred: assegnato Grandparent-led families When one or more grandparents raise their grandchildren when the parents are away or not able to take care of their children, we talk about grandparent-led families. Homosexual families A family in which the children live with a single or two gay parents is called a homosexual family. The children may have been adopted or be the result of assisted reproductive technologies. Single-parent family A single-parent family consists of one parent with one or more children. It is the case of a person who never married or the consequence of a divorce or death of the partner. These people generally feel comfortable being independent and achieving the goal of raising a child alone, but also face the difficulties of managing a family by themselves. Extended families Extended families are not common in Western society, but still present in other parts of the world, especially in rural communities. They are families with two or more adults who are related through blood or marriage, usually with children. They usually live together for social support and to achieve common goals. 266 SOCIETY HELPS Blended families or step-families Blended families or step-families are the result of the merge of two separate families . They can refer to two divorced partners or one divorced parent with another one who has never been married, when at least one parent has children . Commuter families In commuter families one parent lives with the children by providing the primary residence, while the other comes home for short periods of time. Foster and group-home families Foster and group-home families are a kind of substitute family provided by foster parents and institutional childcare workers to children who have been referred by the court or government agencies.