Anti-Frizz
09-05-2005, 08:32 PM
Stepfamilies come together when people marry again or live with a new partner. This may be after the death of one parent, separation or divorce.
It can also mean that children from different families end up living together for all or part of the time.
Some children are very happy, but for others, coping with stepparents, stepbrothers and stepsisters can be a difficult and lonely experience.
Settling into a new family situation can always be difficult for the children involved, but this usually resolves itself with time. However, for other children problems can arise in relation to how well they do at school and their general health and wellbeing.
This can result in depression or children feeling stressed and unhappy. What appears to be most important is that children continue to retain a healthy relationship with both their natural parents.
Sometimes stepchildren continue to see both their birth parents, but others may lose touch with one of them. There can be pressure to be a ‘perfect family’, but it takes time to get to know one another.
Just getting used to different ways that each person has can cause problems. Different rules and expectations, kinds of food eaten, when homework is done or what household tasks you would be expected to do are all things that cause stress. Family holidays, Christmas and other religious festivals are all times when each family has its own ways of doing things and it can be hard to adjust to new ways.
Children might have to move house, neighbourhood and school. It can mean losing friends and moving away from loved relatives. Families combining can mean less privacy; for example, sharing a bedroom, or never having somewhere quiet to do homework or just be alone. It can be a difficult time for parents too – they are having to be a parent for a child they hardly know.
Some facts and figures about the family today
Recent research indicates that around a half of all divorces will occur within the first ten years of marriage.
It is now probable that one in four children will experience their parents divorce before they reach sixteen.
Currently in Britain there are over 2.5 million children in stepfamily life. One million live in their stepfamily; another million visit their stepfamily.
Children are affected by changes in the family. Many children will live in a variety of family environments during their childhood and adolescence.
Do you have a stepfamily?
Whats it like?
Do you mind it?
It can also mean that children from different families end up living together for all or part of the time.
Some children are very happy, but for others, coping with stepparents, stepbrothers and stepsisters can be a difficult and lonely experience.
Settling into a new family situation can always be difficult for the children involved, but this usually resolves itself with time. However, for other children problems can arise in relation to how well they do at school and their general health and wellbeing.
This can result in depression or children feeling stressed and unhappy. What appears to be most important is that children continue to retain a healthy relationship with both their natural parents.
Sometimes stepchildren continue to see both their birth parents, but others may lose touch with one of them. There can be pressure to be a ‘perfect family’, but it takes time to get to know one another.
Just getting used to different ways that each person has can cause problems. Different rules and expectations, kinds of food eaten, when homework is done or what household tasks you would be expected to do are all things that cause stress. Family holidays, Christmas and other religious festivals are all times when each family has its own ways of doing things and it can be hard to adjust to new ways.
Children might have to move house, neighbourhood and school. It can mean losing friends and moving away from loved relatives. Families combining can mean less privacy; for example, sharing a bedroom, or never having somewhere quiet to do homework or just be alone. It can be a difficult time for parents too – they are having to be a parent for a child they hardly know.
Some facts and figures about the family today
Recent research indicates that around a half of all divorces will occur within the first ten years of marriage.
It is now probable that one in four children will experience their parents divorce before they reach sixteen.
Currently in Britain there are over 2.5 million children in stepfamily life. One million live in their stepfamily; another million visit their stepfamily.
Children are affected by changes in the family. Many children will live in a variety of family environments during their childhood and adolescence.
Do you have a stepfamily?
Whats it like?
Do you mind it?