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Many families today are blending members from past relationships. It would be easy to give up when faced with all the conflicting methods of parenting and discipline that come to a family who has joined forces together.

Early childhood educators have called play “children’s work”. Many parents believe their children should be doing something more productive than merely having fun. But, actually, play fosters physical, emotional, intellectual and social development. Encouraging your child to play is vital for his development as well as his happiness.

Loving your step-child can be both simple and hard. It is not enough for parents, step parents and extended family to feel a deep glow of love for the children in your circle of influence. You must convey that feeling into a message that is heard, felt and integrated by the child. Children need to be told both verbally and non-verbally how much they are valued for just being them.

Being a step parent does not mean being stepped on or walked over like a doormat. It also does not have to be hard, frustrating and disruptive to daily life. Parenting is a challenge, even when you have known the children from birth. Blending families, past experiences, expectations, parenting styles and stages of growth can have an impact on relationships. It is easy to love someone else's children, not always easy to raise them.

A family is most productive functioning as a unit. Think of a family as a healthy potted plant. A plant is made up of small individual stems and branches that, as separate entities, appear fragile and unsteady. But growing and developing together, they gain strength and protection from one another. The plant and the family is healthier and grows more when everyone cooperates and shares the resources as well as environment.