What type of family typically consists of a heterosexual couple and their offspring?

The correct answer, nuclear families, refers to a family structure that typically includes two parents—commonly a heterosexual couple—and their children. This configuration serves as a fundamental unit in many societies, emphasizing the close relationships among immediate family members. This type of family is characterized by its smaller size and the direct parenting and child-rearing dynamics involved.

In contrast, extended families include a broader range of relatives such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins living together or in close proximity, which is different from the nuclear structure. Adoptive families involve individuals who have legally adopted children rather than being biological parents, illustrating a different pathway to family formation. Childless families consist of couples who do not have children, whether by choice or circumstance. Each of these other family types represents varied forms of family dynamics, but they diverge from the traditional nuclear model of a heterosexual couple raising their biological children.