Abstract：As we all know, the family is the first place for nurturing talents.  Family education, closely related to a person’s whole life, is one of the earliest and most important forms of education. Nowadays, with the international cooperations are developing rapidly, high qualified talents are in urgent need. So in many countries, family education is considered to play a vital role in shaping a child’s world view, character, and thinking mode. By cases analyses in Modern Family, this thesis sets forth the such main characteristics of American family education as respecting children’s independent, creating open and democratic educational environment and emphasizing on developing children’s economic consciousness. However, family education is the key point to nurture high qualified talents. Although the Chinese government and educators pay increasing attention to the family education, there are still many problems. Therefore, the study on American family education will encourage scholars to reflect on the current Chinese family education, and provide some enlightenment for Chinese family education as well.    

Keywords: family education; Modern Family; characteristics

Contents

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction…1

2. Characteristics of American Family Education from Modern Family

2.1 Introduction to Modern Family2

2.2 Characteristics of American Family Education.2

3. Reasons for the Characteristics of American Family Education.7

3.1 Historical Backgrounds7

3.2 Economic Patterns.9

3.3 Cultural Traditions.9

4. Enlightenment for Chinese Family Education10

4.1 More Attention to Developing Personal Independence.10

4.2 Focus on Cultivating Methods.11

4.3 Emphasis on Instilling the Consciousness of Freedom, Democracy and Diligence11

5. Conclusion-.12

Works Cited13