Smart Steps & Growing in Wisdom (Curriculum), Francesca Adler-Baeder & Ron L. Deal

At last, a program for stepfamily adults and their children that you can teach "out-of-the-box".

NOTE: This item contains both the Smart Steps and Growing in Wisdom curriculum.

1. SMART STEPS for Adults and Children in Stepfamilies, by Francesca Adler-Baeder, Ph.D. and leading stepfamily educators with the Stepfamily Association of America.  (Although this program has a similar title to Ron Deal's The Smart Stepfamily, they are not related materials.  Each is an independent study.)
2. Growing in Wisdom: A Christian-based Supplemental Guide to the Smart Steps curriculum, by Ron L. Deal.

Product Description: Smart Steps for Adults and Children in Stepfamilies and Growing in Wisdom are now available together.  Designed to be delivered by professionals in a class/workshop or in a living room support group, this adaptable six-week program (two-hours per session) uses didactic teaching, small group discussion, video clips, Power Point, and family homework (all included) to train stepfamilies in healthy living.

The Growing in Wisdom supplemental guide provides an additional 60 pages of content that integrates Christian principles and scripture to the Smart Steps material. 

Adults expand their knowledge about family type diversity in America, the myths about stepfamilies, realistic expectations for stepfamily members, stages of stepfamily development, legal issues for stepfamilies, finances in stepfamilies, defining roles and rules, using empathy, understanding child development, parenting practices, stepparent-stepchild relationships, Gottman’s research on interactions that predict divorce and interactions that predict stability in marriage, communicating with ex-partners, understanding children living in binuclear families, and building respectful and caring relationships in stepfamilies.

The children’s program centers on themes in research that indicate a child/adolescent’s contribution to weaknesses and strengths in stepfamily functioning, learning empathy, realistic expectation for stepfamilies, processing change (individual and family), living in a binuclear family, family strength-building behaviors.  This fits with the mission of family life education to “bring the university to the people” by informing, raising awareness, validating experiences, and teaching skills.

"This is the only Christian research-based material available that educates both children and adults.  It is well worth the investment."

Ron Deal

Purchasing this series involves no additional cost (there are no workbooks to buy).  The Smart Steps Curriculum Includes:

• Leader lesson guides for adult and child programs;
• Background readings, hand-out masters, resource list, and pre/post evaluation questionnaires;
• 2 videos (the movie "Stepmom" and "Smart Steps Video Vignettes"); and
• CD with Power Point slides, hand-out files, evaluation questionnaires.

The Growing in Wisdom Curriculum Includes:

• 60 pages of additional leader lesson guides, fully coordinated with the Smart Steps curriculum.
• Additional handouts.