Topic 6: Family Relation - TZ notes book
/ / / / Topic 6: Family Relation

Topic 6: Family Relation










Family members have rights depending on their status in the family. For instance, parents have rights like bearing, guiding and advising children. They are also free to teach community values to their children and be respected by their children.





On the other hand, children have rights to basic and other needs such as food, shelter, clothes, education, health-care, rest and leisure. Their opinions are also supposed to be heard, they are to be given names and be registered, live with their parents, be protected from harm and be treated equally without discrimination.






Family stability





This is the situation where the family is firm, steady and not changing or disturbed in any way. In a stable family, there is trust, respect, harmony and good behaviour.





The Rights and Responsibilities of Each Member in the Family





Responsibilities of family members





A responsibility is a duty or a job someone has to do, and would be blamed if one fails to do it or does it wrongly. Each family member has his or her own duties for the benefit of the family and the community at large.





(a) Father





In most African societies, the father is the head of the family and therefore has more responsibilities than others. Such responsibilities include making decisions for the family and organizing family activities. He also provides security and requirements for family members like food, clothes and good shelter. Additionally, he teaches children customs and traditions of their community and maintains family discipline and peace.







(b) Mother





The mother always assists the father in maintaining the family. But in some societies, the mother plays a significant role in day-to-day family matters. She is the closest assistant and organizer of family activities. She also gives birth and cares for both her husband and children. Lastly, she is a bridge of love between parents and children as well as maintains family stability.







(c) Children





Children are an important component of the family and nation at large. They are good assistants in domestic work and in take care of younger siblings. Additionally, they are a bond of love and joy in a family. Therefore, they have to respect parents and elders, and learn from them.











Consequences of Failure by Family Members to Carry out Their Responsibilities

The consequences of failure by family members to carry out their responsibilities include the lack of basic needs. This is because children cannot get basic and other needs if their parents fail to work hard. It can also lead to family conflict, family breakdown and children becoming street kids. For instance, frequent misunderstandings cause quarrels and consequently, the absence of peace and security to family members. Finally, family instability may be witnessed aschildren may acquire bad habits and create trouble in the society.




Exercise 1


1. Define the following terms:



  1. Courtship

  2. Marriage

  3. Early marriage






Exercise 2


2. Marriage can be legally recognized, it has been established by:



  1. _______________________

  2. _______________________

  3. _______________________






Exercise 3


3. List any four (4) major causes of early marriage in your society





Exercise 4


4. Write True or False against the following statements:



  1. Poverty is one of the causes of early marriages

  2. HIV/AIDS can be the consequence of early marriage

  3. Children are responsible for feeding the family

  4. Mature marriage is always advantageous






Exercise 5


5. Pick and write the letter of the correct answer from the choices listed below. (The question is not clear. It appears some words are missing. Improve it)



  1. It prepares mates for adulthood

  2. It is a period of avoiding HIV

  3. It is a period of joy and love

  4. None of the above






Exercise 6


6. Are you ready to get married to someone? If Yes or No, give three reasons.




Exercise 7


7. What is a family?




Exercise 8


8. Name any three pillars of families found in your society



  1. _______________________

  2. _______________________

  3. _______________________






Exercise 9


9. What are the advantages of the nuclear family?




Exercise 10


10. What are the disadvantages of extended family?
























Decision-making is a process of thinking to select a course of action from among many alternatives. A person can, through voting, decide who should be his/her leader. Again, one can decide whom to get married to and when. One can also decide when to start a business or which course to take in a college. On the other hand, responsible decision-making is the process of making the choice after considering all options available through a particular criterion.





The Meaning and Importance of Responsible Decision Making

Decision-making is a continuous process in life. It helps in the development and management of material and human resources. It is the situation in which a person, who makes a decision, is accountable and takes the blame for the bad outcome of the decision. It happens when each member of the society feels obliged to participate in the formulation of policies, organising and developing resources to realise societal goals.





The power to make decisions is given to people who do certain tasks, like planning, formulating national policies or organising family matters for the betterment of the society. It depends greatly on experience, feelings, cognition, sensing, judgment, reasoning, instruction and sometimes the level of education and a person’s profession.





Rational decision making





This involves reasoning and critical thinking before making decisions. It implies making a healthy decision.









Skills needed to Make Healthy Decisions

In making a healthy decision, there are clear steps to be followed so as to realise the intended goal. We propose seven steps as shown below:







  • First step:define the problem/identify the problem. We should ask ourselves if there is a problem and how we can solve it correctly. Also, identify the importance, urgency and magnitude of the problem so as to determine the resources needed to solve it.

  • Second step: generate possible solutions/alternatives

  • Third step: generate the criteria for assessing the objectives. Ask yourself: am I measuring the right thing? Find out if the merits outweigh the demerits of each alternative.

  • Fourth step: select the best solution/alternative, especially when the merits outweigh demerits. The decision made will be a healthy one.

  • Fifth step: implement the chosen alternative.

  • Sixth step: evaluate the success of the chosen alternative.

  • Seventh step: modify the decision and actions taken, based on the evaluation done in step six.







Levels in decision-making





There are three levels at which decisions are made, the family, community and national level.



  1. At family level: the members of a family (i.e. parents and children) are involved in making decisions on different matters. But in most cases, parents are the main decision makers because of their age, experience and authority.Some decisions, especially those which touch directly on the interests of children, must involve both children and parents. For example, if a father wants to buy something for his family, he must first seek the child’s willingness and preference before buying it. Therefore, it is important for family members to ask and respect each other’s opinions before making decisions.

  2. At community level: decision making at this level can be made by the people who are in power. These are people who have been given authority to make plans on behalf of other members of the community. On the other hand, some decisions are made by the whole community. The community members gather to discuss some matters, such as building hospitals, schools and roads.

  3. At national level: at this level, broad decisions are made, and important national issues are decided upon. There are some organs which share in making national decisions, these are: the parliament, which makes laws; the executive, which implements the laws and policies of the country, and the judiciary which interprets laws and see that justice prevails in the country.







Importance of making responsible decisions





It is important to make responsible decisions because it ensures the careful use of the limited resources for the betterment and development of the society. It also helps to build a sense of commitment to decisions made on behalf of the people.





Responsible decision brings a sense of making a collective effort, as one element of a democratic society. Finally, it develops a sense of equality and freedom.






Exercise 12




  • Responsible decision-making is the process of making the _______ (good/best/better) choice after considering all the available _______(decisions/options/criteria).

  • Decision making can be held at three levels: , _______ or _______

  • We need healthy decisions for development (True/False).

  • Mention the importance of making responsible decisions









Factors influencing behaviour





Factors which affect human behaviour are as explained below:



  • Influence of parents — Patenting styles influence the behaviour of children. Some characteristics are inherited by children from their parents, which influence behaviour, such as bravery, anger or aggression. Aggressive parents may influence their children’s behaviour. On the other hand, kind parents may transmit kindness to their children.

  • Peer group — Some behaviour are acquired by individuals from peer groups. These groups are found in schools, at workplaces, clubs and other places where people of the same interest and age meet, who may have different behaviours.

  • Influence of technology — Changes in technology, especially, communication technology, plays a major role in molding the behaviour of people, especially adolescents. Adolescents and children imitate and adopt a lot of things from the internet, videos, television, magazines and books.

  • Lack of employment — When people lack employment, they tend to get involved in improper behaviour such as robbery, rape, theft, drug abuse and smoking bhang (marijuana) or using some illegal drugs.








Activity 4


Observe and discuss with your friends the types of behaviours among the students that factors and influenced those behaviours




Exercise 13


1. Define the following terms:



  1. Behaviour

  2. Proper behaviour

  3. Decision-making






Exercise 14


2. List any five elements of proper behaviour:



  1. ______________________________

  2. ______________________________

  3. ______________________________

  4. ______________________________

  5. ______________________________






Exercise 15


3. What are the dangers of improper behaviour?



  1. ______________________________

  2. ______________________________

  3. ______________________________






Exercise 16


4._______ is not an element of improper behaviour.



  1. Corruption

  2. Stealing

  3. Believing

  4. Drug abuse






Exercise 17


5. Write “True” or “False” against the statements given below:



  1. Peers always influence their friends into bad behaviours

  2. Singing and dancing are elements of proper behaviour

  3. Religious teaching is one way to correct improper behaviour

  4. Corruption is an element of proper behaviour

  5. Going to school discourages proper behaviour






Exercise 18


6. List seven proposed steps needed in decision-making.




Exercise 19


7. How could a society correct improper behaviour?




Exercise 20


8. Mention any three advantages of making a responsible decision.




Exercise 21


9. Match the words in column A with the correct statement in column B













      Column A      Column B


  1. Peer group

  2. Assertive

  3. Behaviour

  4. Misunderstanding

  5. Submissive




  1. the way a person does things

  2. factor influencing behaviour

  3. a kind person

  4. may lead to an aggressive outburst

  5. avoid any confrontation

  6. children playing outside the house

  7. consequence of improper behaviour

  8. selecting the best alternative. expressions to make others recognize one’s authority

  9. a school consisting of teachers and







Exercise 22


10. What is the difference between aggressive and avoidance types of behaviours?






Thanks for reading!
Civics Civics Form One Topic 6
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