Blended+Families

**Blended Families:**


 * Tips for educators & resources**

EDUCATOR RESOURCES [] []
 * Administration can provide workshops for teachers and other administrators to understand different stages within blended families
 * Review how having a blended family may affect the children
 * Provide workshop for parents and/or families to help develop procedures that strengthen families
 * Avoid using the term broken home/broken family. Ask the parents what terms they prefer when talking about their family make up.
 * Mail reports and report cards to custodial parents and noncustodial parents
 * Include noncustodial and custodial parents on invites for field trips and class activities
 * Try to be aware of days that the child will be visiting the noncustodial parents, try to send notes accordingly
 * Encourage children to make more than one Mother’s/Father’s day card for step parents and others
 * Invite all parents to serve on advisory boards, PTA, PTO, etc
 * Be sensitive to children whose parents have just remarried. You make see more behaviors or the child may be more distracted.
 * Include family information and stories within the curriculum
 * Provide peer support for the students where they can talk, meet other, and realize they are not the only one with a blended family
 * Offer books, articles and other materials as resources to the child (materials for their level) and parents


 * Communication**

The way a blended family communicates says a lot about the level of trust between family members. When communication is clear, open and frequent, there are fewer opportunities for misunderstanding and more possibilities for connection whether it is between parent and child, stepparent and stepchild or step siblings.

Uncertainty and worry about family issues often comes from poor communication. Kids like to know what to expect. When they feel empathy and understanding from their parents and stepparents, they are more likely to be resilient to the normal ups and downs of adjusting to new family members and a new living situation. It might be helpful to set up some ‘house rules’ for communication within a blended family.

Some general guidelines: Listening respectfully to one another Positively addressing conflict Establishing an open and nonjudgmental atmosphere Doing things together – games, sports, activities Showing affection to one another comfortably

Resources: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/blended_families_stepfamilies.htm http://www.sideroad.com/Family_Life/communication-blended-family.html

**Helpful Resources for Parents**

Books for more information! http://www.books4selfhelp.com/blended.htm

Living with Stepparents - For Kids!! http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/home_family/blended.html

Unity and Peace for Blended Families http://www.allaboutlifechallenges.org/blended-families.htm

Facts for Blended Families http://www.cyberparent.com/step/blendedfamily.htm