The most important social group to influence individual’s development, however, is the family. Functioning family environment has in the process of socialization of the individual irreplaceable importance. Family provides initial human behavior patterns in an orientation and initial interpersonal relationships.

Family is usually considered to be the most important agent of socialization. They not only teach us how to care for ourselves, but also give us our first system of values, norms, and beliefs. Another agent of socialization that relates to school is our peer group.

-families pass along social identity to children in terms of class, ethnicity, and religion. -families begin the process of anticipatory socialization. -families set the stage for resocialization. families pass along social identity to children in terms of class, ethnicity, and religion.

The Role of Family in Child Development. Humans rely heavily on learning for child development. A child’s learning and socialization are most influenced by their family since the family is the child’s primary social group. Child development happens physically, emotionally, socially, and intellectually during this time.

These two functions are also widely known as primary and secondary functions. Under essential or primary functions Maclver includes mainly three functions such as (i) stable satisfaction of sex needs (ii) production and rearing of children and (iii) provision of a home.

Thus, it is the family which ensures the continuity of human race. It is the responsibility of a family to provide basic needs to its members. These include food, shelter, clothing, health and education.

The Economic Functions of Family

• Creating Human Capital.
• Creating Social Capital.
• Household Production.
• Creating Economies of Scale and Providing Public Goods.
• Consumption and Savings Decisions.
• Risk-Sharing and Self-Insurance.