Family Life in Costa Rica

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Family Structure in Costa Rica

Most families in Costa Rica have a multi-generational family structure, with the elderly living in the household or living nearby.

Traditionally, Costa Rican families have been a traditional style, but over the last 30 years, this has changed. Single-parent families rose from 8.6% in the early 80's to 13.8% in 2011. Most of these single-parent families are led by women.

The friend I will visit in 2024 living in Costa Rica is renting a home from a family that owns a multi-generational farm with all family members living on the same property. They all have their own home, but they are very close together. My friend tells me that the family she stays with are very close. They care for one another and the needs of the family as a whole.

Child rearing has been chiefly the job of the woman in the family. Women include mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers. They have been typically the parent that will stay home and care for the children. Young children are treated with "indulgence" until the age of 5 when discipline becomes a part of life for the children. After age five the children are required to go to preschool, where they learn many things, including their culture. Children are taught early to respect their elders and spend much time with extended family, where they learn about the culture, gender roles, collectivism as it relates to the family unit and social skills. (staff, 2018)

Globalization in Costa Rica

 Costa Rica is considered an upper-middle-income country with steady economic growth over the past 25 years. This growth resulted from an outward-oriented strategy based on foreign investment and gradual trade liberalization. Costa Rica has become a world leader in education and has mandatory early education for all citizens. (The World Bank, 2023)

 Costa Rica is known for its stunning beaches, rainforests, and biodiversity, but also its stable democracy and educated population.

Seventy years ago, Costa Rica did away with their army. Costa Rica is invested in education because they don't spend on the army. They consider their strength to be human talent and human well-being. (Moulds, 2019)

        Owner of the property I will be staying at in Costa Rica
Family is very important in Costa Rica; many families are multi-generational all living together in the same home or on the same property.

 

Bibliography

Moulds, J. (2019, January 31). Costa Rica is one of the world's happiest countries. Here's what it does differently. Retrieved from World Economic Forum: www.weforum.org

staff, T. (2018, July 22). TCRN World News. Retrieved from Traditional Family Model Has Changed to New Types of Family: thecostaricanews.com

The World Bank. (2023, October 4). Retrieved from The world banl IBRD IDA: www.worldbank.org

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