Parenting Pointers with Dr. Claudia - Episode 304

Topic - Family Meetings. It feels really formal to have a family meeting. Treating family like a business may feel awkward at first, but then, the structure of getting issues resolved in a public forum becomes meaningful. Keep it to 15 minutes. Don’t violate this. Everyone makes statements that start with “I” and not “You” such as “I don’t like it when Joey makes fun of my friends” instead of “Joey always makes fun of my friends”. A talking stick may help organize the meeting. Whoever has the stick has the floor. Parents note the issues. Ask for ways to resolve them. The following week, get input as to how the ideas worked. End with a positive comment about each person. This is a chance to offer a “goodie”. Solicit ideas for a special dessert the next week. You may end up making all of them, but it’ll be rewarding when the kids buy into the process. This process is a powerful tool to teach healthy problem solving within the family. It’s not about keeping the peace; it’s about creating peace.