Family Developmental Task

Stage 1. The married couple

Positions in the Family
- Wife
- Husband

Family Developmental
Task
- Establishing a
mutually satisfying
marriage.
- Adjusting to pregnancy
- Fitting into the kin
network.

Stage 2. Childbearing
Position in the Family
-Wife/Mother
- Husband/ Father

Family Developmental
Task
- Having and adjusting
to an infant.

- Infant(s) (birth of 1st

child until that child is
2 years old)

- Establishing a
satisfying home for
parents and infant(s).

Stage 3. Preschool-aged children

Position in the Family
-Wife/Mother
-Husband/Father

Family Developmental
Task
- Adapting to the needs
of preschool children.

-Daughter/Sister
-Son/Brother
(oldest child is between 2
and 6 years old)

- Coping with energy

depletion and lack of
privacy as parents.

Stage 4. School-aged children

Position in the Family
- Wife/Mother
-Husband/Father

Family Developmental
Task
- Fitting into the
community

-Daughter/Sister
-Son/Brother
(oldest child is between
ages of 6 and 13)

- Encouraging children's
educational
achievements.

Stage 5. Teenage children

Position in the Family
- Wife/Mother
-Husband/Father

Family Developmental
Task
- Balancing freedom
with responsibility.

-Daughter/Sister
-Son/Brother
(oldest child is between
ages of 13 and 20)

- Establishing postparental interests.

Stage 6. Launching the children

Position in the Family
- Wife/Mother/Grandmother
Husband/Father/Grandfathe
r
(oldest child leaves family
until the youngest leaves
home)

Family Developmental
Task
-Launching youth into
adulthood.
- Maintaining a
supportive home
base.

Stage 7. Middle-aged parents

Position in the Family
Wife/Mother/Grandmoth
er
Husband/Father/Grandf
ather
(from the time children
are gone till couple
retires)

Family Developmental
Task
- Refocusing on the
marriage relationship.
- Maintaining kin ties
with older and
younger generations.

Stage 8. Aging family members.

Position in the Family
- Widow/Widower
Wife/Mother/Grandmoth
er
Husband/Father/Grandf
ather
(from retirement till
death of the marriage
partner)

Family Developmental
Task
- Coping with death and
living alone.
- Selling the family
home
- Adjusting retirement.