Character Building from KidsDiscuss.com

The Family Meeting ~ Teaching Kids to Celebrate Each Others’ Events

2009-11-10T06:00:00-08:00

Do your kids whine about going to school talent shows when their sibling is the star? How can you get your children to support each other? Look inside to see the power of the family meeting.

There are only two lasting bequests we an hope to give our children. One of these is roots: the other, wings. - Hodding Carter

Each child in your family has special gifts. Ask your members to describe the gifts they see in their brothers and sisters.

Let’s pretend your daughter, Amanda, is going to play a solo in the school musical. Use the family meeting to discuss how each member can support her.

The Family Meeting ~

Discuss the following questions:

· “What is the meaning of family love?”

· “How can we support Amanda to show that love?”

· “Why should we attend each others’ ‘special’ events?”

· “If it was your event, how would you want the family to support you?”

· “After the event what kind of celebration should there be for the Amanda?” Let the Amanda pick the celebration she wants.

Imagine how loved your Amanda would feel. Her solid roots within the family would give her the wings to perform. Your family has the power to

give her those roots by celebrating her success.

Additional Help:

Create a loving close-knit family! Let my Family Meeting Book

be your guide. Pick up my Family Meeting Diary at

http://www.kidsdiscuss.com/parent_resource_center.asp?pr_id=kd006

Family Fun ~ Planning Bike Rides with Your Family

2009-11-05T06:00:00-08:00

Where would your family like to bike? Are there special bike routes nearby? Or do you need a bike map to plan family fun? Look inside to see how family meetings can help you make the plans you need.

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. - John Muir

The Family Meeting

The family meeting is ideal for planning bike rides with your family. Deciding where to go, mountains, river paths, or wilderness can be an exciting way to get the children involved.

Find out who is willing to:

Check bike gears and wheels

Prepare a picnic basket

Pack a blanket or two

Get out the biking helmets

Bring emergency medical supplies

Bring some bike tools

Map out the bike trail

Get everyone’s ideas for making this biking trip a fun event. When everyone’s involved, you can be sure your family will have fun.

How do you plan family fun?

Share planning fun events for everyone to enjoy with my Family Meeting Diary at http://www.kidsdiscuss.com/parent_resource_center.asp?pr_id=kd006 Experience the family closeness you always dreamed of.

The Family Meeting: How to Improve Grades, Homework, and Family Life

2009-10-29T06:00:00-07:00

Do your children avoid homework? Would they rather relax and watch television? Find out how family meetings can promote grades, homework, and family life.

“Too often we give children answers to remember rather than problems to solve.” - Roger Lewin

Many families rush to sports, music lessons, and other appointments. When there are too many daily events the family feels scattered, out of touch with each other, and cranky. Homework slides. If this happens in your home, consider the family meeting.

The Family Meeting

Discuss the best time for homework at the family meeting. Schedule homework time. Get the children involved. Listen to their suggestions for the following:

· Will study time be before or after dinner?

· When to check that the homework is correct and neat?

· Will TV or computer games be allowed after homework is checked?

· Will there be rewards for doing the homework well, like game time with you?

Getting children to solve when to do their homework promotes their cooperation. It helps them experience the good feeling of being organized. They’ll get better grades too. Why not use the family meeting to improve homework, grades, and family life?

Want more help with family meetings? Get Jean’s ready-made notebook, the Family Meeting Diary at http://www.kidsdiscuss.com/parent_resource_center.asp?pr_id=kd006 and keep track of all your meetings. You’ll love reading about your family’s successes.

How to Use the Family Meeting to Build Family Love

2009-10-27T16:51:00-07:00

Do your kids dread family meetings? Do they fear getting scolded for things they did wrong? Look inside for a special way to use the family meeting to build family love.

“The quickest way for a parent to get a child’s attention is to sit down and look comfortable.” - Lane Olinhouse

Try This Family Love Builder

If you’d like your kids to sigh, roll their eyes and complain, start your family meetings with crabby looks and criticisms. But if you’d like your kids to smile, start it with compliments. Each person in the family compliments the others and then him or herself. Here are some sample compliments:

The Family Meeting

· Andy, I liked how patient you were when we waited in line

· Daniela, I smiled when you asked the new girl to play

· Kelly, I’m pleased that you’re brushing your teeth after meals

· Jerry, you have a creative imagination and the story you just wrote proved it

· Dad, I like when you laugh at my jokes

· Mom, I have fun cooking with you

I always looked forward to hearing my boys praise me. It made me feel loved and appreciated. You and your kids will love hearing compliments too.

Avoid Negative Endings

When you start your meetings with compliments, you’ll need to teach your children how to give them. A compliment should only include positive praise. Avoid negative endings like:

· Dad, l like when you laugh at my jokes because I know you're actually listening to me

· Mom, I have fun cooking with you when you’re not cranky

· Kelly, I’m pleased you’re brushing your teeth after meals because your breath doesn’t smell as bad

Use the Family Meeting to Build Family Love

Sit down with your family. Look comfortable. Start the family meeting with compliments. You’ll be setting a positive tone for the rest of the meeting.

Your children will learn how to give praise too.

How do you start your family meetings?

Jean Tracy, MSS, invites you to subscribe to her Free Parenting Newsletter at http://www.KidsDiscuss.com and receive 80 fun activities to share with your kids.

Family Meetings ~ The Secret of Dealing with Bullies

2009-10-22T09:11:00-07:00

Is there a bully hurting your child? Does he poke fun of your child in front of others? Does he hit? Look inside to find out how the family meeting can help.

“The most important thing that parents can teach their children is how to get along without them. – Frank A. Clark

How the Family Meeting Can Help Your Child Deal with Bullies

How do you know when to step in? What should you do first? Consider starting with the family meeting. Of course if the bully is physically abusing your child, you must step in.

Imagine gathering the family together and discussing the bully. Go around the room asking for information. Let each child speak. Make sure no one interrupts or hogs the conversation. Discuss the following:

· Find out what the bully does to your child

· Ask if your child wants help

· What do the other siblings think should be done

· Who thinks the school authorities should be told

· Make a plan for dealing with the bully that your child accepts

Kids love helping each other deal with problems. They don’t want bullies hurting their brothers or sisters. They also have the power to come up with great solutions. Your bullied child will feel the family support too. What a special way to bring the family close together!

How does your family deal with bullies? Share your solutions below.

Additional Help:

Solve problems together! Let my Family Meeting Book

be your guide. Pick up my Family Meeting Diary at http://www.kidsdiscuss.com/parent_resource_center.asp?pr_id=kd006

Family Values ~ How Kids Discuss Cheating in the Family Meeting

2009-10-15T06:00:00-07:00

Have your kids been ever caught cheating? If you teach family values, do you wonder what happened? Look inside for an easy way to get your kids to discuss cheating and build strong family values.

“Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.” – C.Everet Koop, M.D.

Use the Family Meeting:

Get your kids to discuss their ideas about cheating. The family meeting is the perfect place to talk. Go around the table and ask what each person thinks.

Discussion Questions to Ask You Children:

1. Why do kids cheat at school? What do they want?

2. How would a teacher know if a child cheated?

3. What do teachers think of kids who cheat?

4. What do classmates think of cheaters?

5. Why is cheating the wrong thing to do?

6. How would you feel if you cheated? Why?

7. How can a person stop cheating?

Statistics on Cheating:

Parents, research tells us that cheating starts in junior high school. By college 75 to 98 percent of college students admit to having cheated in high school (Educational Testing Service Ad Council).

The time to discuss cheating and promote your values is now. Why not use the Family Meeting? You’ll be glad you did. You’ll be raising children with character too.

How do you teach your kids not to cheat? Let us know below.

I invite you to receive 80 Fun Activities to Share with Your Kids when you subscribe to my Free Parenting Newsletter at http://www.KidsDiscuss.com

If you’d like a ready-made notebook to keep track of your family meetings, Pick up my Family Meeting Diary at http://www.kidsdiscuss.com/parent_resource_center.asp?pr_id=kd006 It will become a family keepsake of your most cherished moments.

Family Fun ~ I Dread Holidays!

2009-10-13T06:00:00-07:00

Parenting is hard enough without planning for family holidays. Many mothers feel this way because they do all the work. Whether you're a working mom outside or inside the home, you may be expected to hold the party for your extended family too. You don't have to do all the work.

Family Values:

Many working moms remember how their stay-at-home mothers created delicious holidays. They feel guilty as they tell themselves, "I should do the same." Not so.

"If you want to work for world peace, go home and love your families." - Mother Teresa

The Family Meeting:

Holding family meetings is a way to love your families and share the work. Gather the family around the kitchen table and:

Talk about the meaning of the upcoming holiday
Get their ideas on how to celebrate that meaning
Choose the suggestions to follow
List the tasks needed
Assign names beside each task and the date for completing them
Post the tasks on the refrigerator
Check them off when completed

When 2 or more heads get together, who knows how many creative suggestions you'll get?

One more thing, have the extended family contribute something to the celebration too. When everyone's involved, your holiday may even be better than your mom's. You won't be dreading holidays either.

Try it and let me know how your next holiday goes.

How do you make your holidays fun and easy?

Additional Help:

I invite you to receive 80 Fun Activities to Share with Your Kids when you subscribe to my Free Parenting Newsletter at http://www.KidsDiscuss.com

Family Values ~ How Can I Keep My Kids Safe from Strangers?

2009-10-08T06:00:00-07:00

Look inside for one way to share your family values and keep your children safe.

“Parents, they're strict on you when you're little, and you don't understand why. But as you get older, you understand and you appreciate it.” - Grant Hill

When the doorbell rings, does your child run to the door? Is he excited to welcome a guest? How can family meetings help him make a wiser decision?

Share Family Values within the Family Meeting

Family meetings make it easy to be strict because your children's ideas will be included in the desicions. Family meetings only take 30 minutes. Compared to the hours spent watching TV, 30 minutes isn’t much.

How to Use the Family Meeting to Teach Safety When the Doorbell Rings

· Ask your kids what they should do when the doorbell rings

· Listen to their solutions

· Add your ideas

· Create a simple document

· Write down everyone’s solutions

· Write, “I won’t open the door to strangers”

· Include, “When my parents aren’t home, I won’t open invite my friends in either.

· Have them sign the document

· Post the document on the family bulletin board

Family meetings can teach safety rules. They take little time and they work well when you use them for discussions. Why? You’ll be including your kids’ ideas too. Who wouldn’t love that?

What else would you include in a document about safety for your family to sign?

I invite you to pick up my Family Meeting Book It records your family meetings for a year. When it's completed, you'll have a gem.

Family Fun ~ How to Plan a Family Trip to the Swimming Pool

2009-10-01T06:00:00-07:00

Family Fun ~ How to Plan a Family Trip to the Swimming Pool

Is creating family fun important to you? But are you the one who always plans, prepares, and packs everything? Look inside to find out how to share the work, the fun, and your family values too.

“Where parents do too much for their children, the children will not do much for themselves.” – Elbert Hubbard

Family Fun at Your Family Meeting

Do you ever feel like you’re dragging kids to pleasant events? You’re trying to make them happy and they’re grumbling. Family meetings have the power to change all that because they get your family involved in the planning.

How to Plan a Swimming Event at the Family Meeting

Get out the calendar. Choose a date when everyone’s together. Look up the family swim schedule. Teach your kids how to check the phone book or the internet to find out swim times. Notice the pool’s safety rules. Get the kids to discuss why the rules are important.

Choose Volunteers to Bring

· Bathing Suits

· Towels

· Face masks

· Swim toys

· Ear plugs

· Snorkeling gear,

· Soap for the showers

Feel the excitement!

If you do all the work, your children will not do much for themselves. But if you use the family meeting, they’ll plan, prepare, and pack too. Then everyone shares the work and the fun.

When you use the family meeting to plan family fun, please comment below. I’d love to know the results.

Additional Help:

Create a loving close-knit family! Let my Family Meeting Book

be your guide. Pick up my Family Meeting Diary at http://www.kidsdiscuss.com/parent_resource_center.asp?pr_id=kd006

Family Values ~ My Kids are Disrespectful!

2009-09-29T06:00:00-07:00

What happens to family values, when your kids swear at each other and at you? Can such disrespect be turned around? You bet! Look inside and find out how a simple family meeting can do the trick.

“Your family and your love must be cultivated like a garden.” - Jim Rohn

The Family Meeting:

Use the problem solving step within the family meeting to discuss how swearing hurts the family. Kids love to be heard as they talk about their thoughts. Have different members share how they feel. Then ask each member to give a solution. Criticizing is not allowed.

Family Values Grow within the Family Meeting:

Ask questions to get your family thinking. Make sure everyone speaks. Don’t let members interrupt.

Have each member make a commitment to use respectful talk. Write out commitments to make the family better and post them on the bulletin board.

With family meetings you have the power to root out disrespect and cultivate respectful children. It’s the loving thing to do.

How do you teach your kids family values?

I invite you to receive 80 Fun Activities to Share with Your Kids when you subscribe to my Free Parenting Newsletter at http://www.KidsDiscuss.com