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How to Hold a Family Meeting
From your Parenting of K-6 Children Guide
Family meetings help busy families stay connected. Other benefits of this simple tool are improved communication, self-esteem, emotional support and problem solving.
Difficulty Level:
Average
Time Required:
30 minutes
Here's How:
- Parents decide together to begin holding family meetings.
- Tell children that you will begin holding family meetings to talk about what's going on in everyone's life.
- Let everyone decide together when and where to hold meetings.
- Mom and Dad should be the co-moderators for meetings in the beginning. Share the moderator duties with children as you go along.
- At the first meeting remind everyone to contribute to the conversation, listen to others and to be supportive, not critical.
- Use the 'Go Around' method for discussions. Go around the circle, giving each family member the opportunity to respond to the topic.
- Go Around Topic 1: Something that made you feel good this week.
- Parents offer praise, encouragement and support for the good things that each person mentions.
- Go Around Topic 2: Something that bothered you this week.
- Parents listen for and acknowledge the feelings that are expressed, ask open-ended questions to clarify the problem, then brainstorm solutions with the entire family.
- Go Around Topic 3: Something that you want to work on or accomplish next week.
- Parents model making an action plan and help children set a specific goal to continue positive experiences or address problems identified this week.
- Go Around Topic 4: Your schedule for the week. What meetings, appointments, tests, special events or projects you have this week.
Tips:
- Set a scheduled time for meetings, post it where everyone will see and stick to the time. If parents are committed to the project, it will have more impact.
Related Information:
More How To's from your Guide to Parenting of K-6 Children
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