What's The Topic ?

Parliament Local The Family Citizenship

Government
S1 EP1 : The Blended Family

A reconstituted family is formed

when one or both spouses may
have had an earlier relationship.
One spouse or both spouses may
bring into the new family a child or
children from former relationships.
 Advantages
1. Two sources of income can
1 2
improve financial situations
2. Can improve the quality of
life of people
3. Reconstituted families can
give children more caring
and responsible adults in
their life
4. Children may get a broader
perspective on life
5. Children may learn tolerance
towards others
6. Children will learn to adopt
to new circumstances
Disadvantages
1. Children may not accept the
3
new partner
2. The new partner may treat
your children poorly
3. Different parenting styles
may lead to problems
4. Emotional problems for
children
5. Step-families can be difficult
in terms of financial issues
6. Conflicts between children
in blended family
7. Partners may feel neglected
in the relationship
The Roles of a Blended Family
• To show affection and warmth to each other
• Listen to others points, views and opinions
• Spend time together to become more
comfortable with one another
• Respect each other and each others ways of
approaching different situations
• Give each other space to become accustomed to
the situation and give room for growth
(especially for the growth of the family)
 Challenges of a Blended Family Explained
Age differences - In blended families, there may be children with birthdays closer
to one another than possible with natural siblings, or the new step-parent may be
only a few years older than the eldest child.
Parental inexperience - One step-parent may have never been a parent before,
and therefore may have no experience of the different stages children go through.
Changes in family relationships - If both parents remarry partners with existing
families, it can mean children suddenly find themselves with different roles in two
blended families. For example, one child may be the eldest in one stepfamily, but
the youngest in the other.
Difficulty in accepting a new parent - If children have spent a long time in a one-
parent family, or still nurture hopes of reconciling their parents, they may have
difficulty accepting a new person.
Coping with demands of others - In blended families, planning family events can
get complicated, especially when there are custody considerations to take into
account.
Changes in family traditions - Most families have very different ideas about how
annual events such as holidays, birthdays, and family vacations should be spent.
Kids may feel resentful if they’re forced to go along with someone else’s routine
Parental insecurities - A step-parent may feel anxious about how they compare to
a child’s natural parent, or may grow resentful if the stepchildren compare them
unfavorably to the natural parent.
Supporting details of a Blended Family Explained
Parental Guidance - Kids living without one of their parents is a huge deal and
can have a pretty bad psychological effect on them. However, in a blended
family, they get to have both a father figure as well as a mother figure
Financial Support - In a blended family, two people have jobs which mean they
earn more money. More money means less burden and more mental peace for
the partners, while a better environment and future for the children.
Friendly and Caring Attitude - Kids living with a single parent don’t really care
about anyone because they themselves feel neglected but in a blended family,
kids have more than one parent caring for them as well as a lot of other
relatives. This may develop a healthy relationship as people will be genuinely
concerned about them and would want to help
Broader Thinking - Living with a single parent really limits the vision of children
and they are restrained to one school of thought. However, living with new
people allows them to see a whole new perspective, hence broadening their
mindset.
 1. Acknowledge the challenge. How to solve issues in a Blended Family
● Of course it will take work to
figure out how your new family. It 4. Have discussions with your spouse
can be an uphill climb at first, but outside of an argument.
it’s doable once you have a plan. ● Don’t make it worse. When you
argue in front of children, you change
2. Come up with a plan. who they are. For you, the fight is over
●The role each parent will play when it's over. For your children, it
in parenting and facilitating the doesn't end. They don't see you make

1 2 3
development of any children. up, and they don't participate in the
●The division of labor healing. They go to bed at night
concerning the kids. thinking that their parents are fighting
●Expectations in terms of how because of them. . Agree to make time
much space there will be for the to talk calmly and rationally
couple to do things without
children. 5. . Agree on discipline strategies for
●What kind of access kids
grandparents and other extended ● Don't assume that your style of
family members will have. disciplining will be appropriate for
●Long-term goals and financial your stepchildren. It's important that
planning you talk to your partner about the rules
and punishment that existed before you
3. Try stepping in your kids’ shoes joined the family. It's unfair to change
– the rules on a child overnight.
● Whether you’re the step-
parent or it’s your spouse who’s in
that role, talk frequently with the
An example
of a blended
family using
American
sitcom
“Modern
Family”
which will be
explained.
 Thank you for listening!
• Group 4
• Members : Anushka Sankar
Giada Ramsubhag
Jaishree Bhagwandeen
Avisha Dwaraka
Aruna Harry
Adhika Mahabir