Family relationships

Family relationships are the bonds between family members. There are special interactions for individual family members in The Sims 2.

The Sims
The family relationships in The Sims are very simple. Two Sims are either members of the same family, or they aren't, and all Sims who live in the same house are considered part of the same family. Even when two Sims marry, what makes them part of the same family is that one moves in with the other. That the two Sims are married is not recorded.

The parent-child relationship does exist, but is not recorded as such. It only exists while the child remains a child. Using the "Age of Instant" charm or a third-party program to turn a child into an adult will break the parent-child relationship.

Likewise, sibling relationships are not recorded as such. Children living in the same house are considered to be siblings, but if one or more of them is turned into an adult, that relationship will not persist.

Of course, players can define two adults as parent and child, or as siblings, and play them as such, but the game itself will not define any relationship between them.

The Sims 2
The family relationships in The Sims 2 are more complex than in The Sims. Since family trees were a new addition to The Sims 2, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, siblings, and cousins now exist.

List of Family Relationships in The Sims 2:


 * Grandparent
 * Grandchild
 * Aunt/Uncle
 * Niece/Nephew
 * Parent
 * Child
 * Sibling
 * Cousin

Life-extending items such as the Elixir of Life and the Cowplant, or resurrection can allow a Sim to live long enough to be a great-grandparent. However, great-grandparents and great-grandchildren who are alive at the same time will not be shown as related in the relationship panel.

Family Interactions
In The Sims 2, Sims have interactions that can only be performed with family members.


 * Encourage: Using this interaction, a Sim can encourage a younger Sim's behavior and change their personality. For example, if an older family member encourages niceness, the younger will be kinder to people.
 * Family Kiss: Two blood-related or unrelated (somebody who has moved in to join the family but has no relations to any of the family members blood-wise(although they could be a pre-existing Sim's love interest)) family members can give each other a family kiss. If a child Sim kisses another family member they will wipe their own lips with their arm afterward. If a Sim has made their spouse furious at them (e.g. from cheating or arguing), the only kiss they can perform is family kiss (if any).
 * Babies: If an infant Sim exists in the family a related Sim can cuddle and play with them. If an unrelated Sim exists on the lot they cannot perform "cuddle" or "play with". They can only "change diaper", "let [sim name] out" and "get bottle for [sim name]".

The Sims 3
The overall family relationships in The Sims 3 are very similar to the ones in The Sims 2. A new addition to the family relationships are in-laws, and step-family members.

In The Sims 3, Sims do not have interactions that can only be performed with family members, with the exception of babies as in The Sims 2.


 * In The Sims 3, family relationships always show up in the relationship bar, but a Sim's relationship with a family member depends solely on their interactions with said family member (no added instant bonus for being related, except when living together there is more time to talk with one another).
 * Also Sims with the Family-Oriented trait do have an easier time teaching toddlers to walk, talk and potty training them. They also have the option to hug, praise and encourage to build skills more often than other Sims.

List of Family Relationships in The Sims 3:
 * Great-Grandparent
 * Great-Grandchild
 * Grandparent
 * Grandchild
 * Aunt/Uncle (Relationships for Grand Aunt/Uncle don't show)
 * Niece/Nephew (Relationships for Grand Niece/Nephew don't show)
 * Parent
 * Child
 * Sibling
 * Cousin (first cousins only)
 * Parent-In-Law
 * Sibling-In-Law
 * Step-Parent
 * Step-Child
 * Step-Sibling
 * Half-Sibling

Note: Sims can be half-siblings and cousins at the same time, for example if Don Lothario impregnates Nina Caliente, then impregnates Dina Caliente the babies will be born with both family connections.