Viking families lived together - children, parents and grandparents. The father of the family would be in charge, and it would be his responsibility to make sure that the family had all of the food it needed. He would look after the farm animals and crops and go hunting. The eldest son would take over the farm or business when his father got old or died.

The mother of the family was also very important. She had to make sure that the family's food would last throughout the cold winters. She would make butter and cheese, and smoke meat and fish above wood fires. Smoking meat and fish would stop them rotting, and they could be stored throughout the winter. She would also know about herbs for making medicine and looking after the sick and wounded. When the Viking men went away raiding, trading, hunting or fishing, the women were in charge of running of the farm, harvesting crops and looking after the animals.