Ideas about Family Diversity: An Analysis of Families' Perceptions in Schools

(1) Background: Families are evolving due to social, cultural, and economic changes. This is reflected in schools, where children from diverse family models interact daily. Understanding how families perceive these structures is essential to fostering inclusive schools. This study analyses families’ perceptions of family diversity and how they view the role different typologies play in children’s development. (2) Methods: 112 families with children in Early Childhood Education from three schools in Granada (Spain) participated. They completed the Questionnaire of Ideas about Family Diversity (CIDF), which assessed beliefs and attitudes toward different family models. A cross-sectional, non-experimental quantitative design was used to analyse the data. (3) Results: Findings show that prejudices toward family diversity persist. Factors such as religious beliefs, residence, and school type significantly shaped perceptions. Among structures, separated families were viewed most negatively, while adoptive families received the highest acceptance. These results highlight biases that may influence how children and families experience diversity in schools. (4) Conclusions: Not all family models achieved the same acceptance. This underscores the need to promote awareness and education about diversity, encouraging open discussion and inclusive attitudes in school communities. Addressing these issues with families can foster a more supportive environment for all children.