FAMILY MEETINGS

Some people’s favourite parenting tool is the Family Meeting.

It is a great place to solve problems, but also to learn problem-solving skills, communication skills, and to build family relationships, and even have fun!

Make it a habit to put problems on the agenda - and encourage your kids to put their issues on the agenda too. Never too early to learn about ‘containment’ and delaying things that we might want to have a solution for immediately, but that may require more patience.

Set a regular weekly time, that everyone can rely on - and post it - on a piece of paper (not online) where everyone can see it. Maybe right next to the agenda.

Start with a check-in - a moment for humour, or positive comments.

If your kids are old enough have a chairperson and recorder (minute-taker), and rotate those roles.

When an issue is presented, take time to brainstorm ideas, develop creative, group problem-solving. Sometimes it takes multiple meetings to come up with a solution that works.

Hearing people’s different views often leads to a problem ‘solving itself’.

This is a great time to review family calendars, and make time for family fun.

You can even end the meeting with dessert or a family game.

As a parent - try not to ‘lecture’, and encourage each child to have their say, in their own way - so that everyone is heard, and everyone can contribute and participate. No problem too big or too small.!