Supportive Environment for Blended Families by Lovepreet Cheema

     

   Supportive Environment for Blended Families

    Children's family life may have a direct impact on their physical, economic, social, and emotional well-being, as well as their long-term life trajectory.

Blended families are an integral part of our society.

    “The 2011 Census of Population for the first time counted the number of stepfamilies. In that year, there were 464,335 stepfamilies, representing 12.6% of all Canadian families comprising a couple (married and common-law) and children under the age of 25” (Statistics Canada).       

    Blended families are unique in a way as members of the family live under one roof despite the fact of biological relationship with all family members. The members of blended families have numerous benefits of living together but they may face many obstacles on their way especially the children who need their both biological parents.

    We, the educators support blended families in a variety of ways. We believe that communication is the first ladder to achieve the goals. Partnership with the parents is significantly important for the holistic development of the children.

    Our program is specifically designed to meet the needs of the children who attend the program: including differences in age, gender, skill level, and comprehension ability. We accept and accommodate their diverse needs, and this is reflected in several aspects of our programming. Children in care, need a nurtured environment where they can feel safe, secure and can feel a sense of belongingness. There are many non-profit organizations who are working tirelessly for the blended families. We are here to help families to provide them the information where they can get help to solve their problems.

    From the first formal meeting, we get an idea of the family situation, if needed, we provide them many links/ sources such as Stepfamily Foundation of Alberta, Bonus families, co-mamas etc. to get help. Moreover, we understand the value of diversity.

We focus on to inculcate the roots of diversity among the children.

• We gather information about their cultural preferences including food, festivals and dress up by communicating with parents.
• We celebrate different cultural festivals such as Diwali, Hanukkah, Chinese New Year etc. to promote diverse people’s culture. 
• Different types of food related to different cultures are a part of our menu.

       Our team of experts recognizes that each child has specific requirements. We pay attention to those needs and work at the appropriate pace to support young child's ongoing development. Our planning is based on the interests, needs and abilities of a child. We plan activities to assist children to develop their social skills. We help them to develop sharing and caring attitude so that they can adjust in any environment. We share our observations, abilities, strengths, issues, problems as well as the progress of the children with the parents regularly. The feedback of the parents is also essential for further improvement.

    We understand that separation and adjustment in new family can be challenging. Many children pass through a phase of the emotional distress. We support them by providing extra care and attention for the emotional, intellectual, and physical assistance he or she requires, while in our care. For parents in the Calgary area who require childcare, our unique services are the best solution. We offer a varied schedule to keep the child happy, entertained, and learning oriented. More importantly, we provide a secure and healthy environment for young child to develop and flourish. 

References:

Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. (2017, August 2). Census in Brief : Portrait of children’s family life in Canada in 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2022, from https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/as-sa/98-200-x/2016006/98-200-x2016006-eng.cfm?wbdisable=true