Family and Community-Family Social Science Class 6 In English-CBSE Notes

Chapter 9. Family and Community

Family

Family is the fundamental and most ancient unit of any society. Almost all people live in some form of family.

• Family provides love, care, support and security to its members.
• Family is the first social group in which a child learns to live with others.
• Family members share responsibilities and help one another.
• Family members are connected through different relationships.
• Family life is based on love, care, cooperation and interdependence.
• Family members often support one another during difficult situations.
• Family is also an important place for learning traditions, practices and values.

Types of Families

Indian society has several types of families, including joint families and nuclear families.

Joint Family

A joint family is a family in which several generations live together.

• A joint family may include grandparents, parents, uncles, aunts, brothers, sisters and cousins.
• Several generations may live under the same household.
• Members can share household responsibilities.
• Family resources may be shared among members.
• Children can learn from older members of the family.
• Older members can provide guidance and support to younger members.

Nuclear Family

A nuclear family generally consists of a couple and their children. Sometimes it may consist of one parent and children.

• A nuclear family has fewer members living together.
• Older generations or other relatives may live separately.
• Modern living conditions may lead some couples to prefer nuclear families.
• A nuclear family may provide greater independence to the members.
• However, it may have fewer family members available to share responsibilities.

Joint Family and Nuclear Family – Difference

Family Relationships

• Family members have many different relationships with one another.
• Indian languages have many specific terms for family relationships.
• Hindi has terms such as bua, tau, tai, chacha, mausi, nana and nani.
• Some Indian languages also have separate terms for elder and younger brothers and sisters.
• In many Indian languages, there is no separate word equivalent to the English word cousin.
• Cousins may simply be called brothers and sisters.
• This reflects the close bonds among children within the wider family.

Roles and Responsibilities in a Family

Cooperation means working together. Relationships among family members are based on love, care, cooperation and interdependence.

• Every member of a family has certain roles and responsibilities.
• Parents are responsible for raising their children.
• Parents help children grow into happy and responsible members of society.
• As children grow older, they gradually take on more responsibilities.
• Children may help their parents, brothers, sisters and other family members.
• Children learn to participate in household activities through daily practice.
• Household responsibilities may include cooking, cleaning, shopping and helping with studies.
• Responsibilities need not always be performed by the same person.
• Family members can share work according to their circumstances and abilities.

Family as a School of Values

The family is also a school where children learn important values and practices.

• Children learn values through everyday family life.
• They learn how to cooperate with others.
• They learn to respect and care for other people.
• They learn family traditions and practices.
• They may learn traditions that have been followed by the family for generations.
• Family members learn to put the needs of others before their own when necessary.

Dharma

Dharma means doing one's duty. Following one's dharma has been an important principle of Indian culture.

• Every person has duties towards others.
• Family members have duties towards one another.
• Doing one's duty helps maintain harmony within the family.
• Responsibility towards family is an important part of family life.

Important Family Values

• Ahimsa – Non-violence or avoiding harm to others.
• Dāna – Giving or sharing with others.
• Sevā – Service to others.
• Tyāga – Sacrifice or giving up something for the benefit of others.
• Love – Caring deeply for family members.
• Care – Looking after the needs of others.
• Cooperation – Working together.
• Sharing – Sharing resources and responsibilities.
• Respect – Treating family members with consideration and dignity.
• Responsibility – Performing one's duties towards other members.

Family Support and Sharing

• Family members often give up some of their own needs to take care of the family's needs.
• Family members may share money, food, clothes and other resources.
• Family support becomes especially important when a member faces financial difficulties.
• Sharing helps ensure that the needs of all family members are considered.
• Cooperation strengthens relationships within the family.

Example – Shalini's Family

• Shalini lives with her family in a town in Kerala.
• Her father runs a small business.
• Her mother is a teacher in a nearby school.
• Shalini has a younger brother.
• Her grandmother Acchamma, her father's brother Chittappa and her aunt Chitti also live with them.
• Shalini's cousin Chinni is also part of the household.
• Shalini's uncle lost his job and her aunt was a homemaker.
• During the festival of Onam, the family realised that Shalini's uncle's family could not afford new clothes.
• Shalini's parents bought clothes not only for themselves and their children but also for Chittappa, Chitti and Chinni.
• Shalini received a simple cotton dress instead of the silk dress she had expected.
• She was happy that everyone in the family could receive new clothes.
• The story demonstrates family support, sharing, care and sacrifice.

Example – Tenzing's Family

• Tenzing lives in a village in Meghalaya.
• His father runs a small grocery store.
• His mother works in a local handicraft cooperative.
• The cooperative makes traditional fabrics, wood carvings and other items for tourists.
• When Tenzing's mother became busy with her work, his father helped with household activities.
• He helped clean the house and take care of the vegetable garden.
• The example shows that family responsibilities can be shared.
• It also shows cooperation between family members.

Family and Modern Living

• Modern living has influenced the structure of families.
• Some couples choose to live separately from older generations or other relatives.
• Such families are generally called nuclear families.
• Joint families may provide greater support from several generations.
• Nuclear families may provide greater independence and privacy.
• Both joint and nuclear families can have advantages and disadvantages.
• The important principle is that family members should support one another.

Important Definitions

Important Points to Remember

• ✔ Family is the fundamental and most ancient unit of society.
• ✔ Indian society has different types of families.
• ✔ Joint families include several generations living together.
• ✔ Nuclear families generally consist of a couple and their children.
• ✔ Family relationships are based on love, care, cooperation and interdependence.
• ✔ Every family member has roles and responsibilities.
• ✔ Children gradually learn to participate in household responsibilities.
• ✔ Family is a school where children learn values and traditions.
• ✔ Dharma means doing one's duty.
• ✔ Ahimsa, dāna, sevā and tyāga are important family values.
• ✔ Family members may sacrifice their own needs for the needs of the family.
• ✔ Sharing resources strengthens family relationships.
• ✔ Shalini's story demonstrates family support and sharing.
• ✔ Tenzing's story demonstrates cooperation and sharing household responsibilities.
• ✔ Both joint and nuclear families have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Quick Revision

• Family → Fundamental unit of society.
• Joint Family → Several generations living together.
• Nuclear Family → Couple and children, or one parent and children.
• Cooperation → Working together.
• Interdependence → Depending on one another.
• Dharma → Doing one's duty.
• Ahimsa → Non-violence.
• Dāna → Giving.
• Sevā → Service.
• Tyāga → Sacrifice.
• Family as a School → Learning values, traditions and responsibilities.
• Shalini's Story → Sharing and supporting family members.
• Tenzing's Story → Sharing household responsibilities.

All Topics Chapter Family and Community

• 1. Chapter Review and Key Points
• 2. Family
• 3. Community
• 4. Assignments - What Have You Learned?