In this episode, we’re diving into a topic that hits close to home for every parent—social wellness for kids and step-kids. If you’ve ever felt unsure about how to guide your children through the ups and downs of friendships, bullying, or personal boundaries, you’re not alone. We’ve been there, too, and we’re sharing some of our own experiences—both the wins and the missteps—as we supported our kids’ social growth.

This is the third episode in our wellness series, and today we’re focusing on the social skills that help kids thrive, not just in childhood but for the rest of their lives. We’ll talk about what social wellness really means, why it’s so important, and how blended family dynamics can add an extra layer of complexity. Plus, we’ll share six practical strategies that have made a difference in our home.

You’ll hear stories about how we coached our kids through rejection, mean-girl drama, and personal boundaries—all while learning some lessons ourselves along the way. We know firsthand how tricky it can be to help kids build confidence and navigate social challenges, but we’re here to offer encouragement and ideas you can use right now. Let’s tackle this together!

What You'll Learn:

• Why social wellness is vital for kids' emotional health and overall happiness.
• Common parenting challenges in supporting kids' social development.
• Six actionable tips to help your children build social skills.

Resources Mentioned:

• TED Talk: The Good Life is Built with Good Relationships by Dr. Robert Waldinger.
• Episode 168. Actionable Steps for Helping Kids Navigate Through Difficult Emotions and Problem Solve (the skill of Emotion Coaching)
• Article by Isa Marrs: 7 Signs Your Child is Being Bullied
• Article by Jason Marrs: What to do, and not do, if your child is being bullied
• Book: Crazy Stressed by Dr. Michael Bradley
• Episode 19. How to Help Step-Siblings to Get Along Better
• Advice for parents teaching social skills: Where I Can Be Me
• Tips for Teens around social issues: Where I Can Be Me

Actionable Takeaways:

• Choose one or two of the six social skills strategies to focus on with your child this week.
• Share this episode with a friend or co-parent who might find these tips helpful.

Ready for some extra support?

We're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home. Schedule your free call here: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession

#BlendedFamily #SocialWellness #ParentingTips

We would be so grateful if you left us a review on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others

Are you ready to join the Blending Together Community? Click this link: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether

Resources:

• Episode 198. How do sleep habits impact the health and wellness of your kids? [with Jessica Bryant]
• Reach out to Jessica for a Free 15-minute sleep Audit if you have questions about sleep
• The Better Sleep Counsel
• Episode 178. Surviving the Turbulent Teen Years: Expert Insight and Strategies for Today's Parent [With Dr. Michael Bradley]
• Book by Dr. Michael Bradley: Crazy Stressed - Saving Today's Overwhelmed Teens with Love, Laughter, and the Science of Resilience
• Episode 197. Conquer Digital Overload: Parenting Tips for Raising Tech-Savvy Kids [with Steve Arterburn]

Suggest a Topic or Ask a Question

Would you like us to discuss something specific or answer your question on the show? Let us know!

We've made it easy. Just click here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/share

Ready for some extra support?

We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence and connection in your home. Schedule your free call here: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/free-call

Subscribe or Follow the Show

Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.

Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts

Click here to follow on Spotify

Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts

If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

Are you ready to join the Blending Together Community? Click this link: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether

Are your kids ever irritable, anxious, or just "off"?

Maybe they aren't getting enough sleep.

You might be surprised how inadequate or inconsistent sleep habits can negatively impact your kid's ability to focus, tolerate stress, and manage relationships. Lack of sleep increases fatigue, affects mood, and decreases overall wellness.

In fact, our guest Jessica Bryant says there really isn't any health concern we might have for our kids that isn't impacted by sleep — particularly their mental health.

Jessica has helped over 2000 families across 5 different countries to create healthy sleep habits. She's done that using her unique combination of professional experience as an early childhood intervention specialist and her personal focus on creating healthy sleep routines with her own children.

In this episode, Jessica shares some simple steps that can make a massive difference and increase wellness in your family by promoting healthy sleep habits.

You'll Discover:

• The real risks and health concerns for kids struggling with sleep deprivation
• Practical tips around healthy sleep habits for kids of all ages
• How to implement new habits as a family to promote wellness through sleep
• Encouragement and positive ways to approach sleep issues in your home — even when your kids' other home operates differently.

Resources from this Episode:

• Connect with Jessica at Sleep Happy Consulting
• Reach out to Jessica for a Free 15 15-minute sleep Audit to help answer your questions about sleep
• The Better Sleep Counsel
• Episode 172. 2 Key Elements to Resolve Your Parenting Style Differences - And Get United

Ready for some extra support?

We all need some extra support along the blending journey — we're here to help. You can connect with us for a free coaching call to see how we might help you experience more clarity, confidence, and connection in your home. Schedule your free call here: https://calendly.com/mikeandkimcoaching/freesession

Subscribe or Follow the Show

Are you subscribed or following the podcast yet? If not, we want to encourage you do that today so you don't miss a single episode.

Click here to subscribe in Apple Podcasts

Click here to follow on Spotify

Leave a Review in Apple Podcasts

If you’re feeling extra helpful, we would be so grateful if you left us a review over on Apple Podcasts too. Your review will help others find our podcast — plus they’re fun for us to read too! :-) Just click here to review, select “Ratings and Reviews” and then select “Write a Review” — let us know what your favorite part of the podcast is. Thank you, we really appreciate your feedback!

Are you ready to join the Blending Together Community? Click this link: https://www.blendedfamilybreakthrough.com/blendingtogether