This study investigated the meanings 60 children, 6 to 12 years old, attribute to their fathers, mothers, siblings, grandparents and families. Participants were divided in four groups of 15 children each: two groups with children from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil and whose parents had high and low socio-educational level, and two from the interior of Bahia with the same socio-educational levels. Children were individually interviewed according to semi-structured questionnaire. Family composition and local of residence were investigated with parents. Data evidence that children live with their nuclear family but have close relationship with their extended family; the family is conceived as who cares and supports; the mother cares, disciplines and is affective; the father and grandfather play; grandmothers please; siblings play, help and teach, though there is misunderstanding, they are those whom one can always rely on.
family; family members; childhood
