1. The Filipino FamilyThe Filipino Family

2. Filipino families today come in manyFilipino families today come in many
formsforms
 Families with working mothersFamilies with working mothers
 Families with stay at homeFamilies with stay at home
fathersfathers
 Latchkey familiesLatchkey families
 Single parent/ solo parentSingle parent/ solo parent
householdshouseholds
 Families with parents apartFamilies with parents apart
 Blended familiesBlended families

3. Families with working mothersFamilies with working mothers
 At present, most FilipinoAt present, most Filipino
homes have workinghomes have working
mothers. With the highmothers. With the high
cost of living andcost of living and
changing lifestyles, thechanging lifestyles, the
average income of theaverage income of the
husband is often nothusband is often not
enough to support theenough to support the
family.family.

4. A family may be a single parent orA family may be a single parent or
solo parent householdsolo parent household
 Traditionally, this occurred only ifTraditionally, this occurred only if
one of the parents died.one of the parents died.
 Today there are increasingToday there are increasing
numbers of single parentnumbers of single parent
households due to familyhouseholds due to family
disintegration leading todisintegration leading to
separation, abandonment orseparation, abandonment or
annulment.annulment.
 There are also instances when aThere are also instances when a
child is being reared by anchild is being reared by an
unmarried parent, an aunt/uncle orunmarried parent, an aunt/uncle or
even a grandparent.even a grandparent.

5. Single parenting is commonSingle parenting is common
nowadays due to:nowadays due to:
 Overseas employmentOverseas employment
 SeparationSeparation

6. Latchkey familiesLatchkey families
 Latchkey families are thoseLatchkey families are those
where parents are unavailablewhere parents are unavailable
to take care and / or superviseto take care and / or supervise
the children before or afterthe children before or after
school and on school holidays.school and on school holidays.
The term “latchkey” refers toThe term “latchkey” refers to
the fact that children have theirthe fact that children have their
own keys to allow them accessown keys to allow them access
to the family home.to the family home.

7.  An elder relative, brother/ sister or family friendAn elder relative, brother/ sister or family friend
sometimes assumes this role.sometimes assumes this role.
 Leaving children on their own poses not onlyLeaving children on their own poses not only
psychological dangers but also physical dangers.psychological dangers but also physical dangers.
 The latchkey syndrome is most disadvantageousThe latchkey syndrome is most disadvantageous
when children are allowed to wander freely afterwhen children are allowed to wander freely after
school hours, getting home as late as their ownschool hours, getting home as late as their own
parents. Studies show that these children are moreparents. Studies show that these children are more
likely to experiment with sex, drugs and alcohol,likely to experiment with sex, drugs and alcohol,
specially after school hours.specially after school hours.

8. Latchkey children mayLatchkey children may
suffer from:suffer from:
 FearFear
 BoredomBoredom
 LonelinessLoneliness
 Recurring and intenseRecurring and intense
fearsfears
 Vulnerability toVulnerability to
academic problemsacademic problems

9. Single parent/ solo parentSingle parent/ solo parent
householdshouseholds
 Numerous families have either spouse workingNumerous families have either spouse working
abroad or in distant towns, cities, or provinces.abroad or in distant towns, cities, or provinces.
Thus, they are away from family and home forThus, they are away from family and home for
long stretches of time.long stretches of time.
 In this household, the remaining parentIn this household, the remaining parent
performs the roles of the absentee parent.performs the roles of the absentee parent.
 -The stay-at-home partner assumes new roles-The stay-at-home partner assumes new roles
and responsibilities.and responsibilities.

10. Blended or reconstituted familyBlended or reconstituted family
A blended orA blended or
reconstituted familyreconstituted family
refers to a newrefers to a new
household whichhousehold which
includes children ofincludes children of
both partners whoboth partners who
have remarried.have remarried.

11. Blended or reconstituted familyBlended or reconstituted family
Today, it’s more oftenToday, it’s more often
describes someonedescribes someone
who has become anwho has become an
additional parent,additional parent,
stepping into astepping into a
position that is stillposition that is still
filled.filled.

12. Blended or reconstituted familyBlended or reconstituted family
These families face theThese families face the
challenge of combiningchallenge of combining
two households,two households,
harmonizing a network ofharmonizing a network of
relationships andrelationships and
adapting/coping with aadapting/coping with a
new parent, new sibling,new parent, new sibling,
and a new family lifestyle.and a new family lifestyle.

13. What matters is the quality ofWhat matters is the quality of
the parent and childthe parent and child
relationship, not the type ofrelationship, not the type of
family in which a child lives.family in which a child lives.

14. TheThe attitudesattitudes of parents towardsof parents towards
any of these family situations isany of these family situations is
also a key factor in shaping thealso a key factor in shaping the
child’s expectations andchild’s expectations and
experiences.experiences.

15. WHAT IS IMPORTANT ISWHAT IS IMPORTANT IS
TO KEEP THETO KEEP THE
COMMUNICATIONCOMMUNICATION
LINES OPEN.LINES OPEN.