Is the so-called traditional 'nuclear' family in decline? It is now no longer considered unusual for children to grow up in a stepfamily, be raised by a lone parent or same-sex couple or to be adopted. Here, developing family trends are considered, alongside the impact that these changes have had on parenting and child-rearing. The information comes from a variety of sources, including government reports and statistics, newspapers and magazine articles, surveys and polls, academic research and literature from charities and lobby groups; articles have been tailored to an 11 to 14 age group. Additionally, at the end of each chapter are two pages of activities relating to the articles and issues raised in that chapter.