Activity 2-2:
Family Responsibilities



Purpose: To assess the impact of significant life events on the family and to identify available supports.

Preparation: For this activity you will need:

  1. (a) Describe family responsibilities. Explain to participants that families usually take responsibility for economic support, health care and wellness, education and socialization, and family maintenance. Distribute handout 4 and review each area of family responsibility.

    (b) Recording the answers on newsprint, ask the following questions:

    • What opportunities do these responsibilities present to families?

    • What challenges do these responsibilities present to families?

  2. (a) Identify internal and external supports. State that in order for families to fulfill their responsibilities, grow and develop, overcome challenges, achieve goals, and celebrate success, they often draw on their supports, both internal and external. Present the following points:

    • Internal supports are the skills, characteristics, mechanisms, or resources that help families cope with change, including family practices and routines, strengths, family history, traditions, culture, celebrations, economic resources, and family members.

    • External supports include a full range of informal and formal resources, ranging from friends and social activities to specialized professional services that can help a family meet its responsibilities.

    (b) Recording the responses on newsprint, ask the following questions:

    • What are some examples of internal economic supports? External economic supports?

    Repeat the above question, discussing each responsibility (i.e., health and wellness, education and socialization, and family maintenance).

  3. (a) Review significant life events. Briefly review the concept of significant life events as presented in the module's background information. Tell the participants that significant life events can have an impact on families, presenting both opportunities and challenges, and may require them to draw on both internal and external supports.


    (b) Distribute handout 5 and review the example provided in the handout by discussing: 1) how moving, a significant life event, can have an impact on the family; and 2) the supports that the family may need to deal successfully with the move.

  4. Form small groups. Divide participants into small groups and assign each group a significant life event. Distribute handout 6 and have participants complete the handout for the assigned event.


    Trainer Preparation Note: Examples of significant life events the small groups may discuss include marriage, divorce, co-habitation, child birth, a job transfer or change, unemployment, an unplanned pregnancy, school or training enrollment, death of a family member, or a house fire. 

  5. Discuss significant life events. Reconvene the large group after 20 minutes and have each small group share its findings with the large group.

  6. Close the activity. Emphasize that staff can assist Head Start families by helping them to recognize the potential impacts surrounding each significant life event and the internal and external supports that they have for coping effectively. Encourage participants to stay up-to-date on community Supports and resources available for families.


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