Active Parenting for Stepfamilies

Getting married is the easy part!

When a stepfamily is formed, everyone needs to learn new rules: Mom and Dad need to learn how to work together as a team. Children and teens must adapt to changes. To avoid potential problems, everyone needs to build good relationships with new family members, which can often be challenging. The following program is designed by Active Parenting as a program guide to making stepfamilies work.

Active Parenting for Stepfamilies is here to help! Use this new video-based discussion program to help couples work together to raise children within the challenging stepfamily environment. With this program, you will learn solid step-family parenting advice and parenting tips such as when and how to use powerful communication and negotiation skills to strengthen marriage and family. Designed both for parents and stepparents, Active Parenting for Stepfamilies is a great resource for foster parents, adoptive parents, single parents and others affected by loss and change. The program combines the knowledge of Active Parenting author Michael Popkin and stepfamily expert Elizabeth Einstein.

Here’s what you’ll teach in each session:

Session I: Stepfamily Living – A Different Parenting Challenge

• Emotional baggage
• Coping with loss
• Realistic expectations within blended families
• Styles of parenting
• Relationship-building skills

Session II: Communication and Problem-Solving

• Roles of stepparents in a blended family
• Effective communication tips
• A model for handling stepfamily-specific problems
• Making stepfamilies work better

Session III: Loyalties and Values

• Merging different values and cultures within a blended family
• Establishing limits (of space, time, authority, money)
• Understanding triangles/loyalty conflicts

Session IV: The Challenge of Discipline

• Effective, nonviolent discipline
• Logical consequences
• Stepfamily considerations
• Kids who live in two households
• Blended family parenting tips

Session V: From Power Struggles and Anger to Courage and Self-Esteem

• The “FLAC” method of defusing power struggles
• Building courage and self-esteem
• Understanding children’s anger
• Nurturing by encouragement

Session VI: Celebrating Stepfamily Successes

• Making a conscious commitment
• Celebrating your achievements
• Maintaining stepfamily success
• Protecting children from risks