This is an IELTS writing task 2 sample answer essay on the topic of whether or not the whole family should take part in raising children.

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IELTS Essay: Whole Family Raising Children

It is better for children if the whole family including aunts, uncles and so on are involved in a child’s upbringing, rather than just their parents.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Many today feel that is important for the entire extended family to play a role in child-rearing, while others feel that parents are sufficient. In my opinion, the whole family should be part of the process.

Those who doubt the value of the whole family in raising children often point out the potentially negative influence of particular relatives. In an ideal world, each family member would impart their own unique, mature perspectives in the interests of raising a well-rounded child. In practice, many relatives are more likely to serve as bad examples or contradict the efforts of the parents. The best case scenario with such individuals is confusion and in more extreme cases it could lead to developmental problems. There is even the possibility that a close relative is engaging in physical or mental abuse of a child without the parent’s awareness.

Nonetheless, the instances above are exceptions that can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis; in most families extra help lessens the burden on parents. A good example of this would be in countries with very tight-knit families such as in Asia and South America. There it is very common for aunts, uncles and the extended family to lend a hand with raising children. The main benefits of this are for parents and children. Parents get a much needed break from looking after their kids. Children benefit from the undivided attention of their relatives. When they come back home, their mother and father are also more likely to feel recharged and fully engaged in parenting duties having had some time to themselves.

In conclusion, though there are rare situations where the whole family raising a child can be a negative, it is important for parents to receive support from relatives. Parents should strive to have this familial environment in order to raise well-adjusted adults.

Analysis

1. Many today feel that is important for the entire extended family to play a role in child-rearing, while others feel that parents are sufficient. 2. In my opinion, the whole family should be part of the process.

1. Paraphrase the overall essay topic.
2. Write a clear opinion. Read more about introductions here.

1. Those who doubt the value of the whole family in raising children often point out the potentially negative influence of particular relatives. 2. In an ideal world, each family member would impart their own unique, mature perspectives in the interests of raising a well-rounded child. 3. In practice, many relatives are more likely to serve as bad examples or contradict the efforts of the parents. 4. The best case scenario with such individuals is confusion and in more extreme cases it could lead to developmental problems. 5. There is even the possibility that a close relative is engaging in physical or mental abuse of a child without the parent’s awareness.

1. Write a topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Develop your main idea or explain it if necessary.
3. Continue to develop the same main idea.
4. State the possible results – keep your claims weak.
5. State further results to continue developing your idea.

1. Nonetheless, the instances above are exceptions that can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis; in most families extra help lessens the burden on parents. 2. A good example of this would be in countries with very tight-knit families such as in Asia and South America. 3. There it is very common for aunts, uncles and the extended family to lend a hand with raising children. 4. The main benefits of this are for parents and children. 5. Parents get a much needed break from looking after their kids. 6. Children benefit from the undivided attention of their relatives. 7. When they come back home, their mother and father are also more likely to feel recharged and fully engaged in parenting duties having had some time to themselves.

1. Write another topic sentence with a clear main idea at the end.
2. Start a specific example as soon as possible.
3. Develop the exam.
4. State the results of the example.
5. Keep developing the same example.
6. State the results on everyone involved.
7. Conclude with a strong statement.

1. In conclusion, though there are rare situations where the whole family raising a child can be a negative, it is important for parents to receive support from relatives. 2. Parents should strive to have this familial environment in order to raise well-adjusted adults.

1. Summarise your main ideas and repeat your opinion.
2. Add a final thought or detail at the end. Read more about writing a conclusion here.

Vocabulary

What do the words in bold below mean?

Many today feel that is important for the entire extended family to play a role in child-rearing, while others feel that parents are sufficient. In my opinion, the whole family should be part of the process.

Those who doubt the value of the whole family in raising children often point out the potentially negative influence of particular relatives. In an ideal world, each family member would impart their own unique, mature perspectives in the interests of raising a well-rounded child. In practice, many relatives are more likely to serve as bad examples or contradict the efforts of the parents. The best case scenario with such individuals is confusion and in more extreme cases it could lead to developmental problems. There is even the possibility that a close relative is engaging in physical or mental abuse of a child without the parent’s awareness.

Nonetheless, the instances above are exceptions that can be dealt with on a case-by-case basis; in most families extra help lessens the burden on parents. A good example of this would be in countries with very tight-knit families such as in Asia and South America. There it is very common for aunts, uncles and the extended family to lend a hand with raising children. The main benefits of this are for parents and children. Parents get a much needed break from looking after their kids. Children benefit from the undivided attention of their relatives. When they come back home, their mother and father are also more likely to feel recharged and fully engaged in parenting duties having had some time to themselves.

In conclusion, though there are rare situations where the whole family raising a child can be a negative, it is important for parents to receive support from relatives. Parents should strive to have this familial environment in order to raise well-adjusted adults.

Answers

entire extended family uncles, aunts, cousins, etc.

play a role help with

child-rearing raising a child

sufficient enough

whole family entire family

part of the process play a role in

doubt question

value believe to be important

point out argue

potentially negative influence possibly hurt

particular relatives certain family members

in an ideal world in a perfect world

impart give/influence

unique individual

mature perspectives adult views

the interests of for others

well-rounded child kid with diverse interests

in practice in reality

serve as bad examples not good examples

contradict go against

efforts attempts

best case scenario the dream situation

confusion misunderstanding

more extreme cases worst case scenarios

developmental problems mental issues

possibility chance

close relative family member that knows them well

engaging in physical or mental abuse hurting, neglecting, abusing

without the parent’s awareness the mother/father not knowing

nonetheless regardless

exceptions cases outside the norm

dealt with handled

case-by-case basis situation to situation

lessens the burden on parents helps parents get by

tight-knit families close families

lend a hand help out

much needed break required rest

looking after taking care of

benefit for the good of

undivided attention not distracted

recharged re-energised

engaged paying attention

parenting duties responsibilities

time to themselves personal time

rare situations some cases

receive support get help

strive try hard

familial environment family situation

well-adjusted adults normal people

Pronunciation

ɪnˈtaɪər ɪksˈtɛndɪd ˈfæmɪli 
pleɪ ə rəʊl 
ʧaɪld-ˈrɪərɪŋ
səˈfɪʃənt
həʊl ˈfæmɪli 
pɑːt ɒv ðə ˈprəʊsɛs
daʊt 
ˈvæljuː 
pɔɪnt aʊt 
pəʊˈtɛnʃəli ˈnɛgətɪv ˈɪnflʊəns 
pəˈtɪkjʊlə ˈrɛlətɪvz
ɪn ən aɪˈdɪəl wɜːld
ɪmˈpɑːt 
juːˈniːk
məˈtjʊə pəˈspɛktɪvz 
ði ˈɪntrɪsts ɒv 
wɛl-ˈraʊndɪd ʧaɪld
ɪn ˈpræktɪs
sɜːv æz bæd ɪgˈzɑːmplz 
ˌkɒntrəˈdɪkt 
ˈɛfəts 
bɛst keɪs sɪˈnɑːrɪəʊ 
kənˈfjuːʒən 
mɔːr ɪksˈtriːm ˈkeɪsɪz 
dɪˌvɛləpˈmɛntl ˈprɒbləmz
ˌpɒsəˈbɪlɪti 
kləʊs ˈrɛlətɪv 
ɪnˈgeɪʤɪŋ ɪn ˈfɪzɪkəl ɔː ˈmɛntl əˈbjuːs 
wɪˈðaʊt ðə ˈpeərənts əˈweənəs
ˌnʌnðəˈlɛs
ɪkˈsɛpʃənz 
dɛlt wɪð 
keɪs-baɪ-keɪs ˈbeɪsɪs
ˈlɛsnz ðə ˈbɜːdn ɒn ˈpeərənts
taɪt-nɪt ˈfæmɪliz 
lɛnd ə hænd 
mʌʧ ˈniːdɪd breɪk 
ˈlʊkɪŋ ˈɑːftə 
ˈbɛnɪfɪt 
ˌʌndɪˈvaɪdɪd əˈtɛnʃ(ə)n 
riːˈʧɑːʤd 
ɪnˈgeɪʤd 
ˈpeərəntɪŋ ˈdjuːtiz 
taɪm tuː ðəmˈsɛlvz
reə ˌsɪtjʊˈeɪʃənz 
rɪˈsiːv səˈpɔːt 
straɪv 
familial ɪnˈvaɪərənmənt 
wɛl-əˈʤʌstɪd ˈædʌlts

Vocabulary Practice

Remember and fill in the blanks:

Many today feel that is important for the e____________________y to p___________e in c________________g, while others feel that parents are s_____________t. In my opinion, the w_____________y should be p_____________s.

Those who d________t the v________e of the whole family in raising children often p____________t the p___________________________e of p______________________s. I_________________d, each family member would i___________t their own u__________e, m________________________s in t_____________________f raising a w_____________________d. I______________e, many relatives are more likely to s___________________s or c_____________t the e__________s of the parents. The b___________________o with such individuals is c_____________n and in m_____________________s it could lead to d__________________________s. There is even the p______________y that a c__________________e is e__________________________________e of a child w_________________________________s.

N_____________s, the instances above are e_____________s that can be d____________________h on a c_____________________s; in most families extra help l___________________________s. A good example of this would be in countries with very t______________________s such as in Asia and South America. There it is very common for aunts, uncles and the extended family to l______________d with raising children. The main benefits of this are for parents and children. Parents get a m___________________k from l___________________r their kids. Children b_____________t from the u______________________n of their relatives. When they come back home, their mother and father are also more likely to feel r____________d and fully e__________d in p____________________s having had some t__________________s.

In conclusion, though there are r_______________s where the whole family raising a child can be a negative, it is important for parents to r____________________t from relatives. Parents should s_________e to have this f______________________t in order to raise w_____________________s.

Listening Practice

Listen about some rules of Japanese parenting below:

Reading Practice

Read more about the topic of family here from The Atlantic:

https://www.theatlantic.com/press-releases/archive/2020/02/march-issue-press-release/606301/

Speaking Practice

Practice with these questions from the real IELTS speaking exam:

Relatives

1. Are your relatives or friends more important to you?
2. When did you last see your relatives?
3. How do you spend time with your relatives?
4. Are people in your country usually close with their relatives?

Writing Practice

Write about the following related topic then check with my sample answer below:

Although families have influence on a children’s development, factors outside the home play a bigger part in their lives nowadays.

To what extent do you agree or disagree?

IELTS Writing Task 2 Sample Answer Essay: Child Development (Real Past IELTS Exam/Test)