When there is an issue for any family member, holding a family meeting is a good way to resolve it as a family, and regular meetings can promote harmony between all family members.

Read on for our 10 Ways to Run A Family Meeting

1. Don’t force anyone into doing it. Try saying  ‘  I would like to give this a try – would you?’
2. Meetings should happen regularly on a certain day and time, even if there are no specific issues.
3. All family members need to attend, even the youngest.
4. Set ground rules for the meetings, including how to deal with someone who does not keep their agreements.
5. Decisions need to be made by consensus.
6. Make some time in the meeting for each person to say how they appreciate everyone or something someone did that they liked that week.
7. Nice snacks are important – you can rotate who chooses and prepares the treats. Children will find it fun to be given the responsibility for this task.
8. As a parent, try not to talk too much – family meetings are about sharing power.
9. Agree a way forward, write it down and try it.
10. Review the plan, if it works, great! If not make a new plan.

This week’s ’10 Ways to …’ is adapted by One Family’s Director of Children and Parenting Services, Geraldine Kelly, from our Family Communications training programme.

Coming soon: 10 Ways to Positively Maintaining Contact, 10 Ways to Effective Toilet Training and 10 Ways to Increase Social Engagement.

One Family offers a suite of training opportunities for parents and for professionals on an on-going basis. To find out more, click here or call 01 662 9212.

(Photo credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net/Teerapun)