Definition of family: A family is a social unit made of people related to each other by blood, birth, or marriage. They support each other in one of several ways (e.g. socially, economically, and psychologically).

Definition of a Household:  People living at the same address and sharing meals or sharing the same accommodation.

Most families live in a household but not all household are families, for example a group of students sharing a flat makes a household but not a family.

Types of families:

• Nuclear family- Consist of parents who are married and have their own biological children.

• Lone parent family- Consist of one parent (usually female) looking after a child

• Extended family- This family usually consist of grandparents, parents and children.

• Reconstituted family- This type family is know as a step family