Lesson 13

Families Come in Every Shape

Celebrates family diversity including same-sex parents, single parents, non-binary parents, foster families, adoptive families, blended families, polyamorous families, and chosen family. Focuses on what all families share: love and care.
Key Ideas
  • Families come in many different shapes and all of them are real and valid.
  • Some families have two moms, two dads, a mom and a dad, or a single parent.
  • Some parents are non-binary or transgender.
  • Some families are formed through adoption, fostering, surrogacy, or donor conception.
  • Blended families and chosen family are also real families.
  • What every family has in common is care, support, and love.
  • Sometimes other people are not kind to families that look different from their own. Kindness and respect are the right response.


Vocabulary
TermDefinition
AdoptionWhen a child legally becomes part of a family that did not give birth to them.
Foster familyA family that cares for a child temporarily while their family works on being able to care for them again.
Blended familyA family where parents from previous relationships come together, sometimes bringing children from those relationships.
Chosen familyPeople who are not biologically related but who love and support each other like family.