I agree that the extended family is less important now than it was in the past. Some people may mention that the extended family is important to maintain family`s value in the past as well as today. However, the family member should spend a lot of time on maintaining family economy in the past. Also the modern world demanded working separately to each family member.
First of all, the family member should spend a lot of time on maintaining family`s economy in the past. In the past, every family member should work together to continue their life. Thus, father, mother, brothers and sisters worked together simultaneously, relaxed together, and dined together. However, today parents both work and their children study in school on weekdays. Also parents often come home late and children are busy studying their study and doing a part time job. In addition, they relaxed separately on weekends. Parents watch TV while, children play a computer game. So they have few chances getting together.
Second, the modern world demanded working separately to each family member. The modern society consists of many parts. Thus, the society needed to work separately. In fact, each part managed independently in modern society. Naturally, family member also, have their own working area. Commonly, father work outside, mother work in home. Their children work at school. Thus, they had a little time to talk each other. the extended family`s value which worked and relaxed together have a difficulty keeping in modern society.
In conclusion, I agree that the extended family is less important now than it was in the past. It is because the family member should spend a lot of time on maintaining family economy in the past than today. Second, the modern world demand working separately to each family member.