As a famous saying goes “more haste, less speed”, without considering the child’s interests and hobbies, parents are actually killing the child’s curiosity. Unlike China, American parents better understand and respect their children’s interests and hobbies, intending to build an all-round character in their children. American parents prefer to treat their children as equal inpiduals, so they always encourage children instead of protecting and instruct children instead of inculcating. Therefore, American children can usually take harder work, and be more optimistic in life.源'自:优尔]'论-文'网"]www.youerw.com

     American sitcoms are the reflection of American social changes, through which people can better understand the real American cultures. Focused on the study of American sitcom Modern Family, the thesis consists of five parts. After the introduction to the study, the second part analyzes the main characteristics of American family education by cases study from Modern Family. The third part explores the possible reasons for the characteristics of American family education. The thesis puts forward some enlightenment for Chinese family education in the fourth part. The conclusion part emphasizes that we should value family education and learn from the merits of American family education. 

2. Characteristics of American Family Education from Modern Family

2.1 Introduction to Modern Family

     Modern Family is an American sitcom debuted on ABC on September 23, 2009. Presented in the mockumentary style, the fictional characters frequently talk directly into the camera. By now there are five seasons with 24 episodes in each season, and Season Five is still updating. The sitcom revolves around three families living in Los Angeles who are interrelated through Jay Pritchett and his first-married children, Claire and Mitchell. The sitcom reflects some typical characteristics of family education in the nuclear family, the re-married family and the gay family. Claire, Phil, Haley, Alex and Luke represent the nuclear family. Joe, Gloria, and Manny represents the re-married family. And Mitchell, Cameron and Lily represents the gay family. All the cases in this thesis are from Season One to Season Four in Modern Family. 

2.2 Characteristics of American Family Education

     Almost all the stories happened in Modern Family are around children’s educational problems. The characteristics of American family education are displaying vividly in a relaxed and enjoyable way in Modern Family. The following are the cases study of American family education in Modern Family.