When someone develops a romantic relationship with another person who already has kids, they might have trouble navigating life with stepchildren. It can be hard for children to adjust to a new authority figure in their life; however, this relationship could also be very beneficial for not only the parents but the children as well. Because of this, it is important for stepparents to know how to bond with stepchildren. There are several helpful tips that every stepparent should keep in mind.

  1. Take Your Time With Your Stepchildren

It can be tempting to try to build a relationship with the kids as quickly as possible. Instead, take your time and build the relationship naturally. Bonding with stepchildren is going to take some time. Wait for the children to warm up to you. If you are making their parent happy then the children will want you around more often. Start by being friendly and you will win the respect of the children. This is one of the most important building blocks of building a relationship with stepchildren.

  1. Be a Welcoming Authority Figure

Try to make sure that the stepchildren know that they can express their feelings around you. Sometimes, children want to bottle up their feelings, particularly when there is an unfamiliar person around. Therefore, try to be open and frank with the children. If you are open with them, the children will be open with you. This is an essential part of how to connect with stepchildren. Of course, when the children do start to open up, make sure that you are considerate and sympathetic towards them. This will build the relationship further.

  1. Make Decisions With Your Partner About Your Stepchildren

Part of how to be a good stepparent involves planning carefully with your partner. You are going to need to have clear, open lines of communication so that you both are on the same page when it comes to making decisions for the family. Clear, consistent parenting decisions between both authority figures will keep the children happy.

  1. Do Not Discipline Your Stepchildren Too Soon

In the early part of the relationship, it is appropriate to let the other plant handle disciplinary actions. The children need time to trust and respect you before they are going to be okay with your authority. Because of this, it is fine to take a back seat to this at first. As the children start to trust your authority more, they will be more open to having you handle discipline as well. When this happens is a decision that must be made jointly with your partner.

  1. Play with your Kids

Perhaps the most important part of bonding with stepchildren is to play with them. Children need to have fun and want to be cared for. This involves playing with them. Play sports with them. Play video games with them. Play board games with them. This is an extremely important part of not just being a good stepparent but also being a good parent as a whole.

Rely on a Compassionate Utah Divorce Attorney

Divorce can be a challenging situation to navigate. When there are children involved, it is critical to plan every part of the agreement carefully. Therefore, rely on the experience of a compassionate Utah divorce attorney. Wall & Wall Attorneys at Law, P.C., has been helping families with issues involving divorce and family law in the greater Salt Lake City, Utah area since 1973. Our trained legal professionals will make sure that we consider your individual situation, treat you with the respect that you and your family deserve, and make sure that you understand all of the options available. Then, we will work with you to make sure that we make decisions that will set you up for the future. Call Wall & Wall Attorneys at Law in SLC, Utah today at 801-441-2388 for a free 30-minute consultation. 

Download pdf

Wall Legal Solutions
Latest posts by Wall Legal Solutions (see all)