Types of Family

This is a family unit consisting of two adults and any number of children living together. The children might be biological, step or adopted.

This is grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, either all living nearby or within the same household, eg if a married couple lives with either the husband or wife's parents, the family changes from a nuclear to extended household.

This is also known as a 'step family'. A family where one or both adults have children from previous relationships living with them.

This consists of a parent not living with a partner, who has most of the day-to-day responsibilities for raising the children. The children will live with this single parent for the majority of the time but may still have contact with their other parent.

Same-sex couples cannot concieve together, so their children may be adopted or be the biological children of one member of the couple. They may also be from a sperm donor or a birth mother.