Approximately half of all U.S. marriages are remarriages for one or both partners, and one third of all children in the United States will live in a stepfamily household before they reach adulthood.

According to Brian Higginbotham, professor of Family, Consumer and Human Development at Utah State University, one of the main factors in the success of these remarriages is blending stepchildren and stepparents into a cohesive family unit.

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"Rather than trying to instantly create one big happy family, new stepparents should focus on building individual relationships,” said Higginbotham. "Before the family can bond as a whole, individuals must be bonded one-on-one." "A successful blending of families is really an investment in the well-being of children."

Three keys to successful stepfamilies

1. Engage in activities with the child that he or she is interested in. For example, if the child likes to play football or a certain sport, the stepparent could go to a game with the child.
2. Work on individual relationships. "Each family member must bond individually with each other before they can gel as a group," said Higginbotham.
3. Create new traditions. For example, pick a holiday and get the child's input on how to celebrate it.

"Increasingly, remarriage is becoming a familiar and frequent phenomenon in our society," said Higginbotham. "It is important that we move beyond a negative conceptualization of stepfamilies and focus on the strengths and opportunities afforded to children and adults in this increasingly normative family formation."

What tips do you have for stepfamily success? Write us and let us know!

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