Children are more likely than adults to follow the rules they created.
Children will readily accept fair consequences if they are involved in their creation.
Family Meetings Reduce Family Conflict.
Family meetings can reduce fighting between siblings and parents and between children and their parents by creating a forum for discussing problems.
Family Meetings get children involved in the running of the house.
Children are more likely than adults to perform the chores they have chosen.
Family Meetings Encourage the Development of Key Life Skills
Family meetings can help you develop the skills of listening, problem-solving, and teamwork.
Family Meetings Empower Children.
Involving children in family decision-making helps them feel secure and respected.
Family meetings are great for families. So how do you get started with family meetings? These are five steps to establish regular family meetings at your home.
1. Start with a concrete, simple problem or project.
David and Eleanor Starr, authors of a 2009 white paper entitled “Agile practices for families: Iterating and children and parents,” – decided that their first family meeting would focus on the current issue of the chaotic morning routine of their family (4 children and eight pets). The family developed a list of morning responsibilities that each child should follow. This helped to reduce family conflict almost instantly. Parents can redirect a child’s attention to their checklist if they are distracted from getting ready for school. This was a better alternative to yelling, screaming, and arguing.
Most families experience chaos and stress when getting their children ready for school. A tremendous first task is to create a morning checklist for every family member.
Some families prefer to start their meetings by focusing on positive things rather than tackling problems. Families brainstorm and come up with a list of potential destinations. Each family member could then be tasked with researching one of these places.
Planning the menu for the week is also an excellent first project. Many families struggle to get their children to eat the meals they prepare. Another great place to start is to organize a family Make a BVC (Big Visible Chart “).
It is essential to keep a record of the family meeting agreements so members can refer to them. Starrs recommends that family members hold a description of the information and responsibilities they have agreed upon during a family meeting.
