Modern society is defined by industrialisation. Everything from education to urban life has expanded and is still doing so. People do not rely on their own like before; they used to grow their food and rear animals. More than before, we have to assess the importance of family in modern society.

Modernity came up with new priorities. Now, people live for the future, and money has become one of the main concerns.

The traditional and perfect family consists of a man, a woman, and two children. In some cases, grandparents and other relatives also lived with them. However, in modern society, the definition of the family has changed. There is no exact definition of a family. The most common type of family consists of two parents of any gender and their children. The parents do not have to be married, and there may even be three parents. The children can also be adopted or carried by a third person.

The traditional family was much more focused on doing tasks together. People reproduced to be supported and helped with their daily activities. Sometimes, children were not even planned. However, families have become smaller and smaller through the generation. We now have available drugs and technology to prepare families. But children are not as needed and wanted as before. Life has become expensive, and the cost of raising children is not considered affordable for some families.

Family support

Family is essential when supporting any type, whether emotionally, mentally or physically. Family support is the one that will never cease. In any case, the family will be there to support its members. For instance, grandparents often offer to babysit when the parents have to work or are busy. They are often retired and therefore can help when needed.

Also, family support is most helpful when it comes to sickness. Family is the best support you can get when its member is ill. The family members will always accompany each other when they go to a doctor’s appointment to get awful news about their health and treatment. The parents, usually one of them, will often take the day off to take care of the children when they are sick. They also have the responsibility to take care of the elderly when their health degenerates.

Some studies showed that, while unhealthy relationships among the family members are the leading cause of depression, family support is also a remedy. Mental health is enhanced when sharing happy moments with the family. Moral support is also one of the many vital functions of the family. For example, while going through a member’s death, family members support each other during their grief. It can also happen in many different situations, such as after a break-up or a failed exam. Given the support they need, they are encouraged to move on and try to do their best.

Financial security

Members of the family are expected to provide for the other members. Those who work contribute to the family by giving part of their income to meet the family’s needs and wants. For example, to help pay the utility bills, meals, and shelter.

It is also much easier to be financially stable while pursuing one’s education. The tertiary education of the children is secured.

Education

Family plays a significant role in a child’s education. It is said that the family, mainly the parents, is the first educator. Children learn by taking examples from the interactions of their families. They learn basic communication skills, literacy and numeracy.

The primary importance of the family pertaining to education is that children also learn about their identity, how to behave, and their society’s culture. They also know what they should or should not do and the habits to adopt to have a healthy lifestyle.

In modern society, children are the ones to teach their parents/grandparents basic technology. They educate them on how to use a mobile phone, a computer, and some applications such as Facebook.

Sense of belonging

Belonging means that a person feels that they are part of a group. Family provides a sense of belonging to a person. It is not easy to adapt to another environment and socialise with other people. Creating relationships with other people may be hard, and sometimes, a person does not feel like they belong. The first group that a person is a part of is the family. The family make sure that its members feel connected and accepted.

With a sense of belonging from the family comes many benefits. People learn the concept of generosity, sharing, values and overall, how to coexist with others.

YUVA works with families to ensure that children and young people have access to good health, are well educated, experience parents’ love and surroundings, and are cared for, protected, and participating.

The family, as its own, is an institution that thrives in modern society. It has its importance and offers several benefits to its members. Thanks to the family, children learn and grow to become decent and respectable human beings in contemporary society. Consequently, one cannot deny the significant importance of the family in modern society.

Ingrid Roussel, YUVA Intern