Helping Children Build Stepfamilies That Work (KidsHealth.org)

“Helping Children Build Stepfamilies That Work” from Kidshealth.org will help children dealing with step and blended families.  It covers issues like getting used to stepparents, what to do if you can’t get along with your new stepparent and how to make a healthy transition into a step family.

The article offers a realistic picture of what a child might be going through:

Suddenly having a new adult in your life and your home can be really tough. You’ll probably have lots of questions, like what you should call your stepdad or stepmom. (Some families use the person’s first name.)

You also might wonder about rules and whether you really have to listen to your stepparent even if he or she is not your real mom or dad. A stepparent is another adult who’s looking out for you, so it’s best to give him or her the same level of respect you give your own parents, coach, or teacher at school.

You might worry about what will happen on holidays — who you’ll be with and exchange presents with. These are all good questions and ones you should talk over with your family. You might want to talk with your parent alone or call for a group family meeting, or even ask a parent to write a schedule for you.

This resource offers a good variety of information and useful tips for building stepfamilies that work.

LINK: http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/home_family/blended.html