Define Family life cycle.

The family life cycle refers to the series of stages that a typical family undergoes over time, from formation to dissolution. Developed by sociologist Paul Glick in the 1950s, the family life cycle model outlines the developmental trajectory of families, identifying key stages and transitions that occur as individuals and families progress through various life events.

The family life cycle typically includes stages such as:

1. Formation: The initial stage of family life, characterized by marriage or partnership formation and the establishment of a new household.

2. Childbearing: The stage in which couples become parents and experience the joys and challenges of raising children, including pregnancy, childbirth, and early child-rearing.

3. Parenting: The ongoing stage of child-rearing, encompassing the nurturing, socialization, and education of children as they grow and develop.

4. Adolescence: The stage marked by the transition of children into adolescents and young adults, involving physical, emotional, and social changes, as well as the renegotiation of parent-child relationships.

5. Empty Nest: The stage in which children leave the parental home, leading to changes in family dynamics, roles, and routines as parents adjust to an empty nest.

6. Aging and Retirement: The later stages of the family life cycle, characterized by the aging process, retirement, and potential changes in health, caregiving responsibilities, and family roles as individuals and couples navigate the later years of life.

The family life cycle model helps to understand the developmental tasks, challenges, and transitions that families experience across different stages of life, providing a framework for studying family dynamics, relationships, and adaptation to change.