Family Engagement Plan

MADISON COX
ECD 108*C03
 The Lawrence Family

The Lawrence family is from South Carolina and contains 6 members at the
moment, but will be expanding to 7 when the new baby arrives. Otis and
Fannie have been married for 3 years. Otis Lawrence is the father of the
family, with two sons ages 14 (who visit one weekend a month and six weeks
during the summer) from a previous marriage and also is a car salesman and
attends school at night. Fannie Lawrence is a third grade teacher and also
has two children from a previous marriage, Kim(7) and Pete(4). Kim and Pete
only see their biological father once or twice a year and call Otis “daddy”.
The family has recently moved into a new 4 bedroom house and have a
good income for the family.
 The Lawrence Family

Fannie and Otis Kim and Pete Otis 2 Older sons

 Strengths of the Lawrence family

The Lawrence family is a big close knit family. They enjoy

going on family outings together such as going to the
beach, movies, or the park. The family instill great values
on their children. The family also has great patience with
Pete when he is being a typical 4 year old. They are not
very strict but do enforce rules and allow their children
to explore and ask questions about topics that they are
currently curious about.
 Needs of the Lawrence family

The Lawrence family have a few thing that they could improve on.
The nutrition of the family was a topic of discussion and it was stated
that they family mostly eats out and does not regularly eat together
as a family, so this may be something the family may want to work on.
Also the family needs to come up with sleeping arrangements in their
new house that accommodate everyone especially with the new
baby arriving. The Lawrence family may want to work on a schedule
for the family once the new baby arrives and also set up a good
financial plan that will work for their family since all 3 children will be in
some type of child care program. Most importantly the family needs
to help Pete adapt to life with a new sibling and realize he is no longer
the baby.
 Strategies

 This family could cook meals together and the children could get involved
with the cooking, also letting Pete use real tools.
 The family could allow Pete to help take care of the new baby ,so the will
feel incorporated since he will no longer be the baby of the family.
 The family could set up a bedtime routine after the sleeping arrangement
are made so the children can adapt more easily and get a betters nights
rest including 4 year old Pete.
 Incorporate activities that everyone in the family can enjoy including a
new mother and baby such as going for walks.
 Statistics

 1300 new stepfamilies are forming every day.

 Over 50% of US families are remarried or re-coupled
 80% of remarried, or re-coupled, partners with children both have careers.
 50% of the 60 million children under the age of 13 are currently living with
one biological parent and that parent's current
 63% of women under age 45 in remarriages are in a blended family
 Family Activity

Ornament Making
I will provide the family with a few sheets of construction paper and some
yarn so they will be able to bond as a family making holiday ornament. This
also will give Pete the opportunity to work on some fine motor skills. The family
can cut the construction paper into any shape they prefer and then stick the
yarn through the top to make and ornament. After this is done then the family
can hang their holiday ornaments somewhere special as a family.
 Resources

 http://www.med.umich.edu/yourchild/topics/newbaby.htm
 https://www.aota.org/about-occupational-therapy/patients-
clients/childrenandyouth/bedtime-routines.aspx
 References

 http://www.smartstepfamilies.com/view/statistics