Families Then and Now: How Your Family Has Changed!

You can learn about how families have changed! Long ago, families were very big. Many children, parents, and grandparents all lived together in one home. You can explore Types of Families to learn more about different kinds of families.

Today, families can be big or small. Some families have one parent. Some have two parents. Some children live with grandparents only. Every family is special!

Long ago, grandparents always lived with the family. Grandpa worked on a farm. Grandma cooked food and sewed clothes for everyone. Children helped on the farm too!

Families had many children long ago. Big families were common because children helped with farm work. One parent often stayed home to care for the family.

Today, many moms and dads go to work. Both parents often have jobs outside the home. Some dads stay home with children. Families today can have one or two children.

Today, grandparents may live in their own home. Sometimes they live far away from the family. But grandparents still help care for grandchildren when parents are at work. You can learn more about Family Changes to see how families grow and change.

Grandparents are older family members. They are the parents of your mom or dad. Grandparents share old stories about the past. These stories help you learn what life was like long ago.

A grandparent can care for you. They help look after grandchildren while parents are at work. Grandparents are very important in your family! Learn more about Generational Changes to see how life changes over time.

A family can have one parent or two parents. A family can have a stepmom or stepdad. An aunt can live with a family too. Some children in Canada have two homes.

Indigenous families in Canada share old traditions. Elders pass down songs, stories, and customs. All families help each other every day. Every family is special in its own way! Explore Family Relationships to learn how family members care for each other.

Family: A family is a group of people who love and care for each other. Your family can have parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, aunts, or uncles.

Grandparents: Grandparents are older family members. They are the parents of your mom or dad. Grandma and Grandpa are your grandparents.

Parent: A parent is a mom or dad in your family. A family can have one parent or two parents.

Home: A home is where your family eats, sleeps, and spends time together. Families live in a home, not a school or store.

Long ago: Long ago means a time before you were born. Your grandparents lived long ago when things were different.

Modern: Modern means today or right now. Modern families can be big or small.

Traditions: Traditions are special things families do again and again. Indigenous families share traditions like songs and stories.

Elders: Elders are older people in a community who share wisdom and stories. They help keep traditions alive.

Siblings: Siblings are brothers and sisters in your family. Long ago, families had many siblings.

You can draw a picture of your family! Show who lives in your home. You can also ask a grandparent to tell you a story about long ago. This helps you learn about Family Stories and how your family has changed.

You can look at old photos with your family. Old photos are like Family Artifacts that show what life was like before. You can compare then and now, just like in Then and Now Comparisons!

You can learn about Family Roles and Responsibilities to see what each family member does. You can also explore Family Origins to find out where your family comes from.

You might enjoy learning about Family Celebrations and how families celebrate together. You can also discover Personal Timelines to see how you have grown and changed over time.

This topic connects to many other fun topics! You can explore Cultural Festivals to see how different families celebrate. You can learn about Immigration Stories to find out how some families moved to new places.

You can also discover First Peoples Oral Histories to learn how Indigenous families share stories. Explore Cultural Characteristics: Language, Family Origins, Food and Dress to see how families are unique.

After this topic, you will be ready to learn about Family and Community History, Changes in Community Life, and How Roles Change Over Time. These topics will help you understand how families and communities grow and change together!