Final answer:
A family consisting of a husband, wife, and children is known as a nuclear family, which is the smallest family unit with immediate offspring.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sociologically, a family that consists of a husband, wife, and children is called a nuclear family. A nuclear family is composed of one or two parents and their immediate offspring, and it represents the smallest unit of a family structure. Despite various changes and the rise in different family structures, such as single-parent families or blended families, the traditional nuclear family model typically indicates a two-parent household with one or more children. However, the conception of what constitutes a family in society is evolving, and this traditional definition does not cover the diversity of family arrangements present in contemporary society. A family that consists of a husband, wife, and children is sociologically referred to as a nuclear family. The nuclear family is characterized by its core unit comprising parents and their biological or adopted children living together. This family structure is often associated with a more confined and intimate household, emphasizing the immediate family members' close relationships. In contrast, an extended family includes relatives beyond the nuclear unit, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Blended families result from remarriage, combining step-parents and step-siblings. A single-parent family is headed by one parent, either due to divorce, separation, or the death of a spouse.