The concepts of family and home are closely linked in Spanish cultures. Oftentimes a family may live for several generations in the same house. Equally, it is extremely common for extended family such as grandparents or aunts and uncles to all live under the same roof and help with the upkeep of the home, including watching the children. For this reason people in many regions do not know much about the idea of a “babysitter” or “daycare” as we know it in the U.S.A.

One interesting point is that even though some families may have a maid who comes daily or may even live with them, this does not necessarily mean that the family is wealthy. Remember that tasks are often more time-consuming in foreign lands where appliances like vacuum cleaners and clothes dryers are not that common. For one thing, electricity is very expensive, so many people choose to do more chores by hand. Children must keep their own rooms clean and sometimes help with easier tasks such as setting the table or clearing the dishes.

The type of house a person lives in depends on the region and the climate. Typically you will see red-tiled roofs, marble floors and darker, smaller rooms with fewer windows than what you may be used to. This helps eliminate the need for either heating or air conditioning since most climates are rather temperate. But in regions like the Spanish-Caribbean, people have more open space and windows to help keep the breezes flowing through their homes. Most families live within the cities, not in the suburbs, frequently in what you might think of as an apartment, condo or townhouse. Many times there will be a small courtyard surrounded by an iron gate. Children may or may not share a room together. In general, people have fewer possessions than you might imagine, in regards to clothing, shoes, toys, books and gadgets. Families spend much time together outside in the streets and with friends, and rather less time inside the home. Likewise, kids play many games outside and less frequently with toys and things like skateboards, skates, bikes and other types of play equipment.

On Sundays, the entire town will most likely be out and about, walking in the town square or in a large urban park like El Retiro in Madrid or Chapultapec in Mexico City.