Family Life Cycle

Grab Bag Activity

Directions:
 Become an expert on the family life cycle you have randomly been
assigned. Be able to explain each focus question (provided on second
page) as it pertains to your stage.
 Create a Grab Bag of items to represent different aspects of your
stage. Bag must contain a minimum of six items.
 Meet with a classmate who is an expert on the same family life cycle
stage (during class). Compare notes, expand and refine your
expertise.
 After you have visited with someone who has the same life cycle, visit
classmates with other stages until you have received information, and
an item for your bag, from the other 5 life cycles.
 After all six stages of the family life cycle have been explained and you
have collected an item for each stage, share what you have learned
about each stage with a partner and explain the items in your bag.
 Turn in your expertise notes, focus questions, and a list of items placed
in your Grab Bag, explaining the symbolism of each.

FC11 Principles of Family and Human Services Summer 2017

 Focus Questions

Directions: Answer the following focus questions about your assigned stage of
the family life cycle.

1. Describe the family at this stage of the family life cycle. What is the focus?
What is happening to the family and its members at this time?

2. What major family developmental tasks must be accomplished at this

stage?

3. At this stage, what family patterns begin to emerge?

4. What are difference of gender perspectives and adjustments?

5. What changes take place in the relationships of individuals, to immediate

and extended family members, during this stage?

6. What critical issues will families face during this stage?

7. Describe rights of passage, rituals, or traditions that often occur during this
stage.

8. Are there any major problems, pitfalls, or dysfunctions that could occur
during this time?

9. What is the impact of culture and religion on the family at this stage?

10. What are special difficulties for gay and lesbian individuals or families at
this stage? How about multi-racial/cultural and multi-religious families?

FC11 Principles of Family and Human Services Summer 2017