Praxis Family and Consumer Sciences key terms

The value of the next-best alternative given up when a person or family chooses one use of scarce money, time, or energy over another. It is the true cost of every financial decision.

The basic economic condition in which unlimited wants exceed limited resources such as income, time, and energy. Scarcity forces families and individuals to make choices and accept trade-offs.

The sacrifice of one benefit or option in order to gain another when resources are limited. Families weigh trade-offs whenever they allocate money, time, or effort among competing goals.

A written plan that matches expected income to planned spending, saving, and debt repayment over a set period. A budget is a tool for controlling cash flow and reaching family financial goals.

The movement of money into and out of a household during a period. Positive cash flow means income exceeds outgo; negative cash flow means spending exceeds income and must be covered by savings or borrowing.

Money set aside in liquid savings to cover unexpected expenses such as job loss, medical bills, or car repairs. Financial educators commonly recommend three to six months of essential living expenses.

How quickly and easily an asset can be converted to cash without losing value. Cash and savings accounts are highly liquid; real estate and retirement accounts are not, so liquidity matters for emergency planning.

Interest earned not only on the original principal but also on previously accumulated interest. Over time it accelerates growth of savings and, when borrowing, accelerates the cost of debt.

The yearly cost of credit expressed as a percentage, including interest and certain fees. APR allows consumers to compare the true cost of loans and credit cards on a common basis.

A record compiled by a credit bureau showing a consumer's borrowing history, payment timeliness, balances, and inquiries. Lenders use it, along with credit scores, to judge creditworthiness.

Fraud in which someone uses another person's personal information, such as a Social Security number, to obtain credit, goods, or services. Victims may face damaged credit and must document and dispute fraudulent accounts.

A scam that uses fake emails, texts, or websites to trick people into revealing passwords, account numbers, or other sensitive data. Consumer educators teach verifying senders and never sharing credentials in response to unsolicited messages.

A government body that enforces laws safeguarding buyers from unsafe products, deceptive advertising, and unfair credit practices. Examples include the FTC and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at the federal level.

A skill or behavior most children achieve within a typical age range, such as walking around twelve months or using two-word phrases by age two. Milestones help caregivers and educators monitor development and spot delays.

The broad areas of growth used to describe human development: physical, cognitive, language, social, and emotional. Educators plan activities that support several domains at once rather than treating them separately.

A noticeable lag in one or more areas of development compared with typical expectations for a child's age. Early identification allows referral to early intervention services that improve long-term outcomes.

A theory describing four stages of thinking: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. It explains why young children learn through senses and action while adolescents can reason abstractly.

A lifespan theory of eight stages, each centered on a crisis such as trust versus mistrust in infancy or identity versus role confusion in adolescence. Successful resolution builds healthy personality and social relationships.

The emotional bond an infant forms with a primary caregiver, which shapes later relationships and sense of security. Responsive, consistent caregiving supports secure attachment; inconsistent care can produce insecure patterns.

Patterns of childrearing described as authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and uninvolved, differing in warmth and control. Authoritative parenting, combining warmth with clear expectations, is linked to the best outcomes.

A parenting approach that combines high warmth and responsiveness with firm, explained rules and reasonable autonomy. Children raised this way tend to show higher self-esteem, self-regulation, and social competence.

The sequence of stages a family typically passes through, from formation and childrearing to launching children and later life. Each stage brings predictable changes in roles, resources, and needs.

The view that a family is an interdependent system in which each member affects the others and the whole. Change in one member or subsystem, such as a new baby, ripples through the entire family.

The set of expected behaviors attached to a position in a family or group, such as caregiver, wage earner, or student. Role conflict occurs when expectations from different roles compete for the same time and energy.

Nutrients needed in large amounts that supply energy and building materials: carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Each provides calories, and balance among them affects satiety, blood sugar, and body composition.

Vitamins and minerals required in small amounts for growth, metabolism, and disease prevention. They supply no energy but are essential; deficiencies such as iron-deficiency anemia impair learning and energy.

A unit of energy in food, technically a kilocalorie, indicating how much energy a food supplies. Weight is managed by balancing calories consumed with calories expended through metabolism and activity.

The energy the body uses at rest to maintain breathing, circulation, and cell function. It accounts for the largest share of daily energy expenditure and is influenced by body size, age, and muscle mass.

Federal evidence-based recommendations updated every five years to promote health and reduce chronic disease. They emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and limits on added sugar, sodium, and saturated fat.

A visual food guidance tool showing a plate divided into fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and a side of dairy. It helps consumers build balanced meals and control portion sizes without counting every nutrient.

Sickness caused by eating food contaminated with bacteria, viruses, parasites, or toxins. Prevention relies on clean hands and surfaces, separating raw meats, cooking to safe temperatures, and chilling promptly.

The temperature range of 40°F to 140°F (4°C to 60°C) in which bacteria multiply rapidly in perishable food. Food should not remain in this range for more than two hours.

The transfer of harmful microorganisms from one food or surface to another, such as raw chicken juices reaching ready-to-eat salad. Separate cutting boards and thorough washing prevent it.

The browning that occurs when amino acids and sugars react under high heat, producing savory flavors and brown color. It explains seared meat, toasted bread, and roasted coffee, and requires dry heat above roughly 300°F.

The browning and flavor development that occurs when sugars are heated alone, without proteins, producing nutty, sweet notes. It differs from the Maillard reaction and is seen in browned onions and caramel sauce.

A protein network formed when wheat flour is mixed with water and kneaded, giving baked goods structure and chew. Gluten development is desired in yeast breads but limited in tender cakes and biscuits.

Managing the amount of food served and eaten at one time to match energy needs. Standard serving sizes and smaller plates help consumers avoid overeating and reduce food waste.

Edible food that is discarded rather than consumed, occurring at harvest, retail, and household levels. Meal planning, proper storage, and using leftovers reduce waste and household food costs.