Family values facts for kids

Family values are ideas and beliefs that are important to a family. They are about how families are set up, what they do, and what they believe in. These values are often passed down through generations.

In the past, especially in the United States, the idea of a "traditional family" often meant a nuclear family. This usually included a father who worked, a mother who stayed home, and their children. Families that didn't fit this exact picture were sometimes called "nontraditional." However, for most of history and in many cultures, the extended family (which includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins) has been more common. The nuclear family became very common in the U.S. during the 1960s and 1970s.

What Are Family Values?

Different dictionaries describe "family values" in similar ways. They often refer to:

• The good principles and ideas, like honesty, loyalty, and faith, that families traditionally teach and share.
• Values, especially traditional or conservative ones, that are believed to help families work well and make society stronger.
• Important beliefs that are usually taught or made stronger within a family, such as high moral standards and good behavior.

Family Values in Politics

Familialism is an idea that puts the family and its values first. People who support familialism believe that families, not the government, should be mainly responsible for taking care of their members.

In the United States, the phrase "family values" has been used by social conservatives. They use it to support traditional ideas about family structures and roles. For example, they might express views that differ from modern ideas about divorce or different types of families. Since the early 2000s, some American conservative groups have also shared these ideas in Africa, calling them "African family values."

Family Values Around the World

Saudi Arabian Culture

In Saudi Arabia, most people follow Islamic teachings and Arab culture. Islam is a very important part of their culture. It teaches people to follow the will of Allah. Many experts say that the family is the main foundation of Muslim society. The way families are structured and how members relate to each other are strongly shaped by the Islamic religion.

In Saudi culture, marriage is seen as the joining of two families, not just two people. In Muslim society, marriage is a social agreement that happens with the permission of parents or guardians.

Saudi families often include extended family members. This larger family group helps individuals feel a strong sense of identity. The father is usually the main provider for the family, and the mother often takes care of the home and children. Parents are highly respected, and children are strongly encouraged to respect and obey them. Families often take care of their elders. Until recently, nursing homes were not common because families and friends were expected to provide elderly care.

United States Culture Today

In the U.S., families that don't fit the "traditional" nuclear family model are now the majority. For example, in 2014, only 46% of children in the U.S. lived in a traditional family (where parents were in their first marriage). This was down from 61% in 1980. However, if you look at all children living with two married parents (even if it's a second marriage for one parent), that number was 65% in 2016. This shows that family structures in the U.S. have become much more varied over time.

See also

In Spanish: Valores familiares para niños

• American Family Association
• Family Research Council
• Family Research Institute
• Focus on the Family
• Glittering generality
• Traditional Values Coalition
• World Congress of Families
• Japanese values