10 Ways to Run A Family Meeting
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
- Don’t force anyone into doing it. Try saying ‘ I would like to give this a try – would you?’
- Meetings should happen regularly on a certain day and time, even if there are no specific issues.
- All family members need to attend, even the youngest.
- Set ground rules for the meetings, including how to deal with someone who does not keep their agreements.
- Decisions need to be made by consensus.
- Make some time in the meeting for each person to say how they appreciate everyone or something someone did that they liked that week.
- 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.
- As a parent, try not to talk too much – family meetings are about sharing power.
- Agree a way forward, write it down and try it.
- 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)