Over the past several decades, the pattern of family dynamics has changed dramatically in the United States. Children growing up in a family in the presence of their biological mother and father was once considered the traditional way of life. However, as society has changed, so has the perspective that a two-parent family is considered the norm. Therefore, the decision is not left to the child to decide the lifestyle he or she will be born into. Children learn how to behave and receive the foundation of what they can expect from life through what they learn from the family they grew up in ("Understanding Family Dynamics"). A strong support system in early childhood, regardless of family dynamics, will greatly influence a child's development. Numerous statistics in the United States have demonstrated that family structure directly and indirectly contributes to certain characteristics of a child's overall well-being. Family dynamics are the interaction between family members, as well as the relationships that exist within a family (“Understanding Family Dynamics”). A child's development is influenced by the experiences they face throughout their childhood. For example, if a child feels secure within their own family, they will begin to develop strong self-esteem. A family is better defined by what its members do for each other rather than the stereotype based on the members who make up a family. Society used to assume that children needed the stability of a traditional two-parent family to thrive. (“Why Children Need Married Parents”). This basic social unit is called a nuclear family. A nuclear family consists of a mother, father and their biological children (Edwards). Durin...... middle of paper ......detoured=1>.Stevens, Larry. “Single-parent or two-parent families, child development and society.” Examiner. April 1, 2011. The web. April 25, 2014. .Thomas, Daniel. “Facts about a two-parent family.” Daily life. GlobalPost, Web. April 25, 2014. “Understanding the reasons: family dynamics.” Strong Bonds – Establishing family bonds. Internet. April 26, 2014. “Why Children Need Married Parents.” United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Internet. April 25, 2014. Wolf, Jennifer. “Single Parent Statistics.” Internet. April 26 2014. .