Family is a very social unit of any community. In fact it may be termed as the sole basis of a society. Without individual units of family, the very existence of society can not be imagined.
A family is the place where the society starts its development and progress. The child takes birth in a family. Here the child is introduced to emotions like love and security. The child opens its eyes and is introduced to the outside world through mother’s love, sibling’s affection and father’s authority.
The social values and cultural aspects of the community are inculcated in the child within the family background.
The institution of family performs variety of functions as already described. These functions are important to the well being of the individual as well as the society.
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The significance of the family will be more apparent if we think of children of broken homes or destitute. Such children are psychologically unstable and emotionally insecure. They generally grow upon to become unbalanced personalities which are misfits in the society. They are maladjusted and may even become unsocial elements of society.
Though it may be argued that since many functions of family like education, health, recreation etc. are being taken up by other social institutions, the importance of family is decreasing but it is not true. Because a family retains its importance as a constituent entity and building block of all societies and communities and will continue to do so in future also.