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JANUARY 2012

Family Meetings Can Help Your Child Feel Connected and Valued

From the desk of Ms. La Capra

 

Children sometimes feel isolated or “different.”  They may feel discon­nected or anxious in social situations.  They might also feel like failures.  Such feelings lead to low self-esteem and make it harder to succeed in school.  Family meetings can help your child feel valued, capable and connected.  In meetings, your child can learn to express what he thinks and feels.  He can get needed emotional support. Plus, he can join in family planning and problem solving..  For instance, “I felt really good about my spelling test.”  Offer praise and encouragement.  “Great job!” or “I am so proud of what you did.”  To start, announce you are going to hold weekly meetings.  Agree as a family on a time and place. At the first meeting, ask family members to talk, listen and be supportive.  Go around the table four times.  Allow all family members to speak about:

 

1.  Positive experiences from the we

2.  A problem they had that week.  Listen and validate your child’s feelings.  Get the family to offer solutions to the problem.

3.  Goals they want to achieve in the coming week.  Help your child come up with specific objectives and a plan of action to accomplish his goal.

4.  Their schedules for the next week.  Let your child know if you will be working late or taking him to the doctor.  Ask about his after-school activities and social plans.

 

Source: “How to Hold a Family Meeting,” About.com, http://childparenting.about.com/library/howto/htfamilymeeting.htm.