Which of the following describes an extended family?

An extended family is best described as a family that includes not only parents and their children but also other relatives. This can encompass a variety of relationships, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even close family friends, all residing together or maintaining close familial connections. The concept highlights the broader social structure of family beyond the nuclear unit, underscoring the importance of additional familial ties and support systems that often contribute to the upbringing of children and the cohesion of family life.

In contrast, the other definitions focus on narrower family structures. A family composed solely of parents and their children defines the nuclear family, while a family with only grandparents and grandchildren might be more accurately classified as a specific subset of extended families but doesn’t encompass the full range of relationships typically found in an extended family. A single-parent family emphasizes the presence of just one parent, which deviates from the definition of extended families that include multiple adult relatives.