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    Family Team Building Activities: Everything You Need to Consider

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    While team-building activities are often associated with workplaces, they’re also beneficial in strengthening family bonds. Spending quality time together is invaluable during the formative years and can spark strong family relationships that last a lifetime. First, I will elaborate on the benefits of team building games. Then I will provide some key considerations to keep in mind when organizing family team building activities. Finally, I will also offer lots of fun ideas for developing teamwork skills.

    One of our family team building exercises is to make homemade Chinese dumplings from scratch. It is a great exercise to learn to follow directions and work together. Then we enjoy the fruits of our labor over a nice meal together.

    Benefits Of Team Building Exercises

    There are many tangible benefits of team building exercises. That is why companies often employ team building in order to get a more productive work force with higher retention rates. Team building games can help increase engagement and improve communication between team members. Learning to work together towards a common goal with a set amount of time can encourage creative thinking, problem solving, and allow each of the group members to showcase their own particular talents.

    A team building event can help individuals to make deeper connections. Developing a greater understanding of each other, our motivations, and our strengths can help future interactions go more smoothly. All of these same benefits apply to family team building exercises.

    In modern family life, everyone can get so busy. That is why it is important to schedule in a fun activity for the entire group. This can help to improve communication skills, critical thinking skills, and social skills. It also serves to make sure you have fun memories that cement you together as a whole family.

    Tips For Organizing A Team-Building Activity For Your Family

    This water obstacle course was one of my favorite family team building events. We competed in small groups and my son and I yelled encouragement and tips out to each other.

    Scheduling regular family team-building activities can be as simple as setting aside an afternoon once a week or once a month. Here are a few things to consider when planning your family team building game or activity.

    Age Groups

    The first consideration when planning family team-building exercises is the age groups involved. The activities for a family with young children will look different than a family with teenagers on the cusp of graduation. Finding activities that work for all age groups is a must when planning family team-building exercises.

    Fortunately, there are many shared activities that can help strengthen your family bonds, even if younger children can’t actively participate. Events like sharing meals, playing games, and having conversations model the desired behavior to younger family members so they’re ready when the time comes to take a more active role.

    Small Groups or All-Inclusive

    Another important consideration when planning family-focused activities is whether they’ll always feature everyone in a large group or if you’ll include smaller groups. For example, you might plan a few whole-family activities for one month and one-on-one time during other months. Breaking into smaller groups is a great way to bond with older children after young siblings are born and strengthen individual relationships.

    Scheduling small group activities or one-on-one time does add some complexity. Small groups may have fun competing against each other at the same team-building activity. However, If you have a young child under 5, this could mean looking for childcare and vetting a sitter so you can find out if they’re trustworthy and reliable. 

    Self-Managed or Supported

    Another consideration when planning family bonding activities is whether you’ll be taking a DIY approach or hiring professional services for support. For example, you can plan a scavenger hunt yourself or pay service for a unique scavenger hunt experience. Similarly, you can plan to cook together at home or hire an instructor for a virtual cooking lesson.

    There are pros and cons to each option. Self-managed activities allow you to keep costs low and control the event. Supported activities allow you to delegate some of the planning and learn new skills. 

    At-Home or Away

    Adding a combination of home activities and away activities can help keep things fresh when planning events. If you’re a busy family on the go all the time, planning at-home activities might be more relaxing. Conversely, if you’ve spent a lot of time at home over the past few years or work remotely, getting out of the house might be better for everyone.

    Complexity and Frequency

    Family team building doesn’t have to include an elaborate event or monthly schedule; there are many things you can do every day to strengthen family bonds.

    Sharing a meal from preparation to clean-up a few times per week is a simple way to share time as a family and teach the value of contributing. You can also create simple routines and traditions, like everyone sharing a good thing and bad thing about their day.

    Equality and Buy-In

    As a parent, it’s natural to want to take the reins and plan everything. However, you’ll get more buy-in and commitment if you give everyone in the family a chance to choose an activity. This democratic approach to planning family night teaches fairness and equality. 

    If you plan a monthly “away” activity, let a different person decide what that will be each month. If you have weekly activities like board games or movie nights, let a different person pick the game or movie each time. Setting boundaries and expectations beforehand can also help guide this process.

    Ideas For Fun Team Building Activities

    House of cardsEscape room (especially great for families with older kids)Obstacle course with time limitIcebreaker games (you’d be surprised the things you may not know about your own family members!)Trivia questions night (where you break up into evenly matched teams)Write a family mission statementGroup juggling challengeFamily game nightHuman knot gameDuck Duck Goose (great for families with little kids)Treasure hunt Pictionary or charadesCard gamesBlindfold half of the members and pair off with a direction giver to retrieve an object (practices following verbal instructions)Trust fall (if kids are old enough and safety precautions are taken)A Perfect SquareTwo truths, one lie (Teens love this one. Each family member will tell 3 facts about themselves and the others guess which one is the lie.)Simon Says Red Light, Green LightPuzzlesLazer tagPaint ballDodgeballCommunity service activityEach family member can teach a new skillPrepare a feast with everyone contributing (Example, make a hot dog bar and have everyone provide two favorite toppings)Capture the flagWork together to accomplish an ultimate goal (a clean living room, planting flowers, creating DIY gifts for each other)JengaTandem kayaking or canoeingPut on a play scene together or play a musical piece as a group

    Conclusion

    With these simple tips and ideas, you can schedule meaningful family team-building activities to improve communication, life skills, and family bonds. Getting the entire team involved in fun games, can only produce great results! What is your favorite family team building activity?

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      Breaking Barriers In Honor of International Women’s Day

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      Every year, March 8th is set aside to honor women, girls, and their limitless potential on International Women’s Day. This global day of celebration has been in existence since the early 20th century. It seeks to bring awareness to various causes related to gender equality and women’s rights. International Womens Day is a great way to honor women who have broken bias and allowed us all to have more freedom. It is also a great way to empower young girls and inspire them in breaking barriers to their own success.

      Today I am excited to have Ramita Anand share a guest post with us for International Women’s Day. She is the founder of the educational mentorship program Elevate.RA. She is also the author a new book, Girl Elevated, (my affiliate link is below). This book is the culmination of more than 15 years of work in education and special learning support. She aims to break the cycle of self-doubt and insecurity that hinders girls both personally and academically.

      What Does International Womens Day Mean To You?

      by Ramita Anand

      For the first several decades of its existence, International Women’s Day was celebrated differently in many countries. In 1977, the United Nations adopted it to help turn it into a mainstream global holiday. For the last several years, the organizers have created a yearly theme to help focus advocacy, policy, and charity work. This theme helps create a shared focus or topic that celebrants can rally behind. This is essential since the lives and experiences of women and girls are so different depending on where they live in the world. 

      #BreakTheBias

      This year, the theme of International Women’s Day is breaking biases, and imagining a gender-equal world free of stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. For many girls, these biases come into their consciousness when they’re young and color their behavior for the rest of their life. Research has shown that many of our most influential biases are already in place before elementary school. Fortunately, they can be unlearned.  

      Helping Our Daughters Unlearn Gender Bias

      In honor of this year’s International Women’s Day, let’s talk about the biases that most affect our daughters. Let’s take a look at how we can empower them to fight against the stereotypes and labels that so often get in the way of their success. 

      One of the biases that I’m so passionate about overturning is that a learning difference or challenge means that a girl cannot succeed in formal education. Even though girls are equally likely to be diagnosed with a learning disability like ADHD or dyslexia, they are less likely to receive specialized treatment under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). It was recently revealed that 18% of male students received special services under IDEA. However, only 10% of female students receive the same.  

      As a parent, you can be your daughter’s advocate to help her get the services she needs. Additionally, there are many programs and tools designed to help girls access their strengths and navigate any anxieties they have around their education. 

      4 Ways to Help Empower Young Girls To Break The Barriers

      There are lots of forces out there in the world trying to tell our daughters that they are less intelligent and less capable than their peers, especially if those peers are male. 

      Many parents struggle to understand how to empower young girls to break down barriers and stereotypes that are unjust. Today, I’ll share some of my best suggestions for ways to empower your daughter and help her thrive, especially if she’s dealing with a learning difference. 

      Be an advocate 

      Many times, girls with learning disabilities don’t find out until later in life because the diagnosing criteria are based on more noticeable symptoms exhibited by boys. If you suspect that your child is having a difficult time and may be struggling with a learning disability, be their advocate until they can get the appropriate help.    

      Involve your child in decision-making as early as possible 

      A great way to help your daughter feel more empowered to tackle her studies despite her learning difference is to get her involved in the decision-making process as early as possible. Explain to her the benefits of specific actions, and show her how they can help. This will help her feel more in control of her own academic future. 

      Keep lines of communication open 

      Encouraging your daughter to share her thoughts and feelings with you on a regular basis will help her develop much-needed emotional intelligence. As you learn more about her day-to-day life and how she is handling her learning disability, it will help you better advocate for their needs. 

      Be positive

      Our kids take many of their cues from us, especially in the early years. If they can see you being positive and forward-thinking instead of giving in to frustration, it will help them model these behaviors in their own life. 

      This International Women’s Day, take the time to reflect on how you can embody the themes of this year. Use them to help your daughter embrace her power.  

      Thanks again to Ramita Anand, founder of Elevate.RA, an educational mentoring service. I hope you found her message to be an inspiration. It is so important to support girls in breaking barriers that are unfair and hinder their success. Low self-esteem and a lack of confidence disproportionately affect our girls. Therefore, I really appreciate her tips for fighting against this common problem.

      I am thankful for all the women who fought to the break the barriers that stood in our way and provide women with equal rights. What does international women’s day mean to you?

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      Quotes On Follow Through And Why It Is So Important

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      Today, I want to share with you some of my favorite quotes on follow through. I think that as a general concept everyone knows follow through is important but sometimes it takes too much time, effort, confidence, or desire. However, following through is part of building trust and confidence in ourselves and others. These quotes will help inspire you be the type of person who pursues and completes what they start. I also have some great insight from author Casey Russell on the art of consistently following through on what you say.

      My Favorite Quotes On Following Through

      “I can give you a six-word formula for success: Think things through – then follow through.” -Eddie Rickenbacker, American fighter ace in World War I, Medal of Honor recipient

      “Character is the ability to follow through on a resolution long after the emotion with which it was made has passed.” –Brian Tracy, Motivational public speaker and self-development author

      “Many people don’t focus enough on execution. If you make a commitment to get something done, you need to follow through on that commitment.” also “For me, integrity is the consistency of words and actions.” –Kenneth Chenault, CEO of a Fortune 500 company

      “Do what you say you’re going to do. Follow through means never having to say you’re sorry.” -Mark Goulston

      “Good thoughts are no better than good dreams if you don’t follow through.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essayist, lecturer, philosopher, abolitionist and poet

      “Those who only do what they feel like, don’t do much. To be successful at anything you must take action even when you don’t feel like it, knowing it is the action itself that will produce the motivation you need to follow through.” also “When you value your integrity at the highest level, living alignment with your word and following through with your commitments no matter what, there are no limits to what you can create for your life. However, when you make excuses, justify doing what is easiest, and choose the path of least resistance, you will live a life of mediocrity, frustration and regret. Live with integrity as if your life depended on it, because it does.” –Hal Elrod, Author, keynote speaker and success coach

      “When we don’t follow through with what we say to our kids, we are teaching them to ignore our words.” -Casey Russell, author of The Handbook for Life With Little Ones

      “Those who are blessed with the most talent don’t necessarily outperform everyone else. It’s the people with follow-through who excel.” -Mary Kay Ash, Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics

      “People will follow you when you build the character to follow through.” -Orrin Woodward, founder of Life as well as a New York Times bestselling author 

      “All the time and effort put into networking can be all for naught if there is no follow-through. The same goes for sales. And leadership. And … well, everything.” -Beth Ramsay, Founder and CEO of Brilliant Women

      “It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.” -Zig Ziglar, Author, salesman, and motivational speaker

      “words are meaningless without intent and follow through and intent without good planning and proper action is equally meaningless.” David Amerland, Author of The Sniper Mind

      These quotes on following through really make it clear why it is an essential element to success in life and relationships.

      The Art of Consistently Following Through on What You Say

      I am very happy to share with you some wise words from Casey Russell on why it is important to follow through. She is the author of The Handbook for Life With Little Ones:  Information, Ideas and Tips for Birth to Age Five. For more ideas and tips for early parenting, feel free to check out her book (affiliate link below).

      by Casey Russell

      Being a parent can be hard. It’s a big responsibility to be in charge, not only of another human’s basic needs, but to also need to keep that human safe, teach him morals, respect, discipline, help him grow his self-esteem and make sure he learns all his curious mind needs know in this world. It’s especially hard when our kids seem not to listen to what we say. Why, we wonder, is my child whining for more when I’ve already told him that’s all he can have? Why is he not getting off the swing when I’ve already counted to 10 in my “I’m serious” voice?

      Have I been following through?

      The answer to this often lies in a simple question we need to ask ourselves. “Have I been following through on what I say to my child?” Kids are smart. They are learning all the time by observing us. They notice when we say one thing and do another.

      Picture this: You are running errands with your child. He asks for a toy. You say, “No, we can’t buy a toy today.” He starts to whine. You tell him no again. He continues to whine and keeps asking for the toy while you are attempting to concentrate on getting the things on your list. He gets louder. You grab the toy and say, “Fine, but we’re not doing this every time we come to the store.” If this scenario sounds at all familiar, now is the time to ask the question: “Have I been following through on what I say to my child?” And, the answer will be no.

      When We Don’t Follow Through

      When we don’t follow through with what we say to our kids, we are teaching them to ignore our words and keep asking until we give in. This is not only frustrating, it can also be dangerous. If they learn to ignore our words in situations like these, they will also be less likely to “Stop!” when we need them to for safety reasons. They are learning, too, that they do not need to respect the fact that someone has said, “No.” We do not want our kids to do this to us and we definitely don’t want them to do it as adults.

      It seems so much easier in the moment, to give in. It gets the child to stop whining and you can focus on what you need to do. But, by accepting the temptation of this moment’s peace, you are inviting years of arguments, whining and disrespect.

      Following Through Earns Respect

      Luckily, there is a solution. Starting now, and forevermore, follow through. If you tell your child he can have one more cracker. Give ONE more. Don’t give in when he cries. Teach him, through your actions, that you mean what you say. If he starts to whine, you can gently say, “Oh, you know you don’t get what you want when you whine. Those crackers are really good. But, we’re done with them for now. What should we go play?” None of this needs to be said loudly or meanly. You just need to make a small shift to a more serious tone. Your child will quickly learn there’s no use in arguing because it’s not going to get him what he wants.

      Only Say Things You Will Carry Out

      With that said, make sure to say things you can follow through with. For example, if you are at the airport and your child starts acting up, don’t say, “If you don’t stop screaming, we are going home.” Because, let’s face it, you’re not going to go home. You’re going to get on the plane and your child will have learned you don’t always mean what you say. Or, if your child is running away from you at bedtime instead of letting you brush his teeth, don’t say, “If you don’t come to me right now, you are not going to sleep with your teddy bear.” The truth is, he will need his teddy bear to go to sleep and that punishment is too strong. No one needs to be mean. Pick something else that will matter to him but that won’t emotionally wound him or make him feel unsafe. An alternative would be, “Right now you have 2 books for bedtime. I am giving you one more chance to come to me so I can brush your teeth. If you don’t, we will only be able to do 1 book for bedtime.” This is a consequence that will matter to him, but is not mean spirited.

      I think it’s important to say “yes” to kids often. But, when “no” is said, they need to know, and be able to trust, that we mean it. Talk about things. Consistently follow through. Let your child know the boundaries and let him take control of remembering where they are. When the boundaries are clear, kids will most often cooperate because they don’t have to test the boundaries. When a rule needs to be made, just gently let your child know what it is– and why– and then stick to it. And then, when your child does a great job making a choice you were hoping he’d make, thank him! Positive reinforcement works wonders. Kids like to know they’ve done something good. We all do. We like to know we’re appreciated.

      Following through on what you say means you consistently do this for promises you make your child, too. If you’ve said your little one can help you bake cookies after his nap, don’t poop out and let time get away from you. Bake the freakin’ cookies! If you’ve said you’ll go to the park after you’re done paying bills, but it is raining when you’re done, get on the raincoats and go! If you do this, your child’s trust in you, and his sense of surety in the world, will grow. By doing this one thing, you will most likely find you have a child who doesn’t whine or put up fits. He will know it’s not worth whining because he’ll know that you mean what you say. It will help him feel safe because he can trust you and he will know the boundaries.

      Get yourself in the practice of consistently following through and then stick to it. This same principle of carrying through a process to completion will serve you well in all facets of your life to help you be respected and accomplish more.

      Thanks again to Casey Russell for sharing those inspiring word on staying true to what we say and for great examples of how to follow through with discipline in a firm but gentle way.

      Follow Through Synonyms And Antonyms:

      Perhaps the most convincing argument for why follow through is so important lies the definition of the phrase. If you look for a word that means the same thing as follow through and a word that means the opposite of following through, you will know right away which side you want to fall on! See the below according to Merriam-Webster:

      Synonyms for follow through (with)

      accomplish, achieve, bring off, carry off, carry out, commit, compass, do, execute, fulfill (or fulfil), make, negotiate, perform, perpetrate, prosecute, pull off, put through

      Near Antonyms for follow through (with)

      failskimp, slight, slur

      Always Follow Through On Your Commitments

      When you really think about it, following through is probably one of the characters you admire the most in your role models. This is because this quality makes them trustworthy. It also demonstrates that they are hard workers who execute their plans. They make things happen. Whether it is in business, personal life, or parenting, follow through is essential to being reliable and getting things done well.

      I hope you enjoyed the quotes on follow through. Which ones did you think were the best following through quotes? I’d love to hear and additional quotes on following through or any personal stories that illustrate the importance in the comments or on social media @familyfocusblog!

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      Read This When Times Get Tough

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      When times get tough, it can be hard to keep going. Here are some motivational tips to help you get through the tough times and help you keep on going till you thrive again.  I will also share my favorite inspirational quotes for tough times. Breathe, read this, and take things one day at a time.
      When Times Get Tough
      When you’re up against what feels like insurmountable circumstances it can be tempting to toss your sneakers in your gym bag and walk off the field.
      Giving up is easy. Life isn’t.
      But you’re smart. You’re hard working. Your friends, spouse and kids respect you. And everything you have, you achieved because you’re a determined, bright and confident person.
      You knew that, though, and it’s still not any easier to cope with what you’re up against. Maybe you lost your job, someone close to you fell ill, or it’s just one of those weeks—or months—when the little things keep piling up until the proverbial camel’s back is dangerously close to snapping.
      If telling yourself that this, too, shall pass isn’t enough to shake the negativity, you need to take some action. Here’s how.
      5 Motivational Tips For Going Through Tough Times

      Take care of yourself
      Not even Michael Phelps can tread water forever, and trying to keep your head above the surface while life keeps tossing waves at you can get you feeling like a pretty terrible swimmer.
      In fact, it can convince you you’re just a downright terrible person.
      When things get hard, you get depressed. That’s natural. And when you’re depressed, it’s a lot more difficult to find the motivation to do even the simplest things like cook a healthy meal, style your hair, or change into something that can’t double as pajamas.
      But do them anyway- walk, run, exercise, go for a bike ride, lose weight if you need to, get out there and experience life. Nutritional expert Isabel De Los Rios has countless stories of mothers who felt like the world was crashing down on them, only to turn it all around through putting themselves (and their health) first.
      Eat. Get some sleep. Take pride in your appearance. Maybe it sounds like added stress, but it’s the physical and emotional boost you need to stay afloat through this. So first and foremost, take care of yourself!

      Count your blessings
      Literally. Gratitude is powerful. Make a list of everything good in your life—the big stuff, the little stuff, the silly stuff. If it makes you happy, put it on your list. Your kids, spouse and home are probably no-brainers. Your dog? Cat? Iguana? Throw him on there, too.
      And don’t forget your grandma’s amazing lemon icebox recipe; your wedding photos; the way your daughter’s head smelled when she was six months old.
      Anything that has brought you joy, anything that you’re grateful for, put it down on paper. Don’t be afraid to get crafty and glue some photos or trinkets on there, too. Then, hang it somewhere—like the fridge, or your office—so you can glance at it now and then and remind yourself that life is wonderful no matter how awful it may be right now. 
      There is always something to be grateful for and sometimes it is easiest to focus on the small details.  The cool pattern the walls of the tent make, the way the sun pokes around the clouds, the pretty color green of new buds.  Those type of details sometimes pull me into the present moment when I am getting lost in the past.
      Gratitude can also help place things into perspective. Whatever is tough for you right now may be small in comparison to all the good you have in your life or how much it will really matter in a year’s time.
      Relax. Now!
      The worst thing to do to yourself when you’re overwhelmed is add weight to an already unbearable pile. Most of us think that staying busy is the best way to distract from whatever obstacle we’re up against, but knowing when to hang up your cape and let someone else fight the battles is a really crucial skill to overcoming adversity.
      If you don’t power yourself back up with ten minutes of deep breathing a day, you’ll lose your mind. No matter what you’re facing, there’s always time to give your mind and body a few minutes of peace. So take a walk, a bath soak, a nap or meditate. 
      I particularly find the below Wayne Dyer meditation music helpful for relaxing. It helps me recenter.
      [embedded content]
      Take out the trash
      On the opposite side of that same coin, find a constructive way to handle all your negative energy. Maybe your finances are a puzzle you can’t seem to solve, or your marriage is in a rut. Or maybe your son just brought home a bad report card. Whatever’s filling you with angst, find a useful way to drain it.
      My suggestion? Declutter your room. Or your garage. Your basement, storage shed, or under the guest room bed. Wherever unwanted crap piles up in your home, attack it.
      This constructive use of excess energy will keep your mind off whatever issue happens to be monopolizing your mental energy, allowing you to revisit it later on with a fresh set of eyes.
      Plus, getting rid of some of the crap in your life is always uplifting.
      Practice some altruism
      Whether you offer to babysit the neighbor’s kids while they’re at a movie, or offer up your time at a soup kitchen, find a way to help other people out with absolutely no gain for yourself.
      Look, when things feel too big to manage, a new perspective can shrink them back down to size. If you feel like you can’t fix whatever’s beating you down, fix something else. Reminding yourself that you’re a competent, compassionate person might be the jumpstart you need to get out of whatever rut you’re broken down in.
      One bonus tip?
      Look in the mirror and smile. Smiling can actually trick your brain into happiness!  Besides, you don’t want to forget how to smile.
      I am also going to share a few of my favorite when times are tough quotes to help inspire you to to, “just keep swimming.”
      Inspirational Quotes For Tough Times

      “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I’ll try again tomorrow.” -Mary Anne Radmacher
      “Believe in yourself, trust your gut, surround yourself with resilient people who inspire you to be better and work hard.” -Monique Hicks
      “Conflict is growth trying to happen.” -Harville Hendrix
      “When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.” -Alexander Graham Bell
      “Tough times don’t last, tough people do.” -Robert Schuller
      “You need to spend time crawling alone through shadows to truly appreciate what it is to stand in the sun.” -Shaun Hick
      Conclusion
      I hope you found these motivational tips helpful for getting through hard times.  They come to us all and you just have to keep going. I sometimes picture Atreyu struggling to get through the Swamp of Sadness in the Never Ending Story. It feels like that sometimes but you don’t want to let yourself be swallowed up like Artax. You have to keep going.  You’ll get through it and you’ll be stronger.  Of my favorite when times are tough quotes that I shared above, my absolute favorite is the one from Mary Anne Radmacher. Tomorrow is a whole new day! 
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      Family Goals Worth Setting

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      You set goals for your personal achievements, goals for your work, and goals for fixing up your home so why wouldn’t you set goals for your family? Goal setting is a great practice that keeps you aiming higher and achieving more. It is hard to get somewhere if you don’t know where you are going. Family goals are worth setting because they help unite everyone under a mission and provide a roadmap for how to get there.
      Family life can be stressful and overwhelming if the whole family isn’t being supportive of one another. Everybody is moving in different directions, doing their own thing, making their own plans; when do you find time to take care of what matters most, your family? That’s were family goal setting can come in to help make sure everyone is playing for the same team.

      What are Family Goals?
      There are two types of goals you can set as a family. You can set goals for things you want to do together like how to spend family nights and vacation time. Or, you can set goals for how you want to work together as a family. For instance, you can create a goal to give everyone the same amount of screen time so there’s no more arguing over whose turn it is at the computer.
      Setting family goals requires the cooperation of the entire family to be successful.
      Why Family Goals are Important
      Happy families don’t just happen by chance, they take work, focus, healthy habits, and decision making. As the parent, it is your job to guide your family and create a loving and supportive home. While everyone participates in reaching the goals, the goals originate with your decisions about what you want for your family.
      Once goals are created and everyone’s on board with working together, it creates a family bond that builds trust, love, and respect.

      How to Set Family Goals
      Setting goals doesn’t need to be difficult, but it does require some decision making about what’s important to you. Your family goals should reflect your family values.
      1. Decide What You Want for Your Family
      This is a time to come together as parents and decide what you want for your family. What do you want to achieve together over the next several months, the next year, the next few years? These goals can have an end result like “we want to take a cross country road trip” or be ongoing goals like “we want our children to show each other respect.”
      2. What Would You Like to Copy or Avoid
      Think about other families you know, or even families you watch on TV, what do they do that you want your family to do as well. What do they do that you want to avoid? Look for examples of things you like or don’t like in other families and set your goals accordingly.
      3. What are Your Challenges as a Family
      Where do you see your family struggling? What do you wish your family did better? The answers to these questions will help you define goals that you want to set.
      4. Don’t Forget the Most Important Goals
      Keeping your family bonded, healthy, and happy should be at the top of your family goal setting. Be sure to set goals that include fitness, healthy habits, encouragement, appreciation, gratitude, and being social together.
      Family Goal Setting Worksheet
      You may also find this Family Goal Setting worksheet helpful, you can print the pdf here or pin the image below for later.

      Family Goals Examples
      These family goals examples may inspire you in creating your own goals. Use these examples to get you started thinking about things that you want to achieve as a family.
      1. Be Active in Your Church – attend weekly services and participate in church events.
      2. Deal with Conflict – set a goal that will help your kids work through conflict resolution in a mature and responsible manner.
      3. Create a Family Financial Plan – that includes savings, investments, education, travel, etc. You might like to use this family financial plan workbook to help you.
      4. Generate Sufficient Income – fights over money can lead to family stress and divorce so this is an important goal. Come up with ways that you can easily increase your household income and reduce spending.
      5. Maintain Open Communication – when your kids feel safe telling you anything, they’ll be more truthful and open with you.
      6. Work/Life Balance – set a goal of the maximum hours you’ll work in a day or a week to give you work/life balance.
      7. Family Health and Fitness – how will you work together as a family to eat healthy and stay fit.
      8. Family Night– set a goal to make sure you have at least one family night a week where you do something fun together like watch a movie or play a game.
      9. Family Meals– set a goal to enjoy a certain number of meals together as a family without any distractions.
      10. Extended Family Time– decide what works best for your family according to where people live. Maybe a monthly get together would be a nice goal or a yearly vacation if they are far away.
      Conclusion
      Family goals are a great way to create a solid foundation for your family. Working together will build mutual respect and trust as well as a strong family bond. As your kids get older and they can participate more in helping to reach goals, the family goals will evolve and change. That is a wonderful part of the process to watch the growth as you move from accomplishing small goals together to taking on larger challenges.
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      How To Have A Family Meeting [Template Included]

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      A family meeting is a great way to keep your family bonded. You can discuss family rules, upcoming events, and share information that everyone needs to know. But unless you have a family meeting agenda, everyone will be off-topic and not paying attention, making it a big waste of time. That is why I have included a family meeting template here to help make sure it stays productive.

      Why Have a Family Meeting?
      Most importantly, it puts everyone on the same page and the whole family will know the same information. No one can say “I didn’t know” or “Nobody asked me”. No excuses! If there’s a new house rule, chores, vacation being planned, or an event everyone has to attend, the family meeting is the time to share. This way you can make sure everyone knows what’s going on and expected of them.
      Family meetings are also a great bonding tool for your family because everyone has the opportunity to connect and share. It reminds everyone that their family is there to support them and help them.
      Additionally, family meetings teach your kids important life skills. By being exposed to the challenges of parenting, kids can learn what the real world is like and how to deal with their problems in a productive way. Meeting as a family can teach communications skills, problem-solving, planning, conflict resolution, and even budgeting.
      Lastly, family meetings help your kids build their confidence as they learn to speak up for themselves. This regular scheduled meeting time gives your kids the opportunity to say what they think and express how they feel without judgement or punishment.

      How to Have A Family Meeting
      1. Set a regular day and time. This will help everyone know when they need to be present, no exceptions. They can mark it on their calendar for a regular time and day each week. 
      2. Keep it positive. Help your family stay focused on the positive. Ask your kids to share something good that happened over the week.
      3. Moderate, but don’t control. As discussion run off-course, you might need to reign your family in and keep them focuses, but don’t control the entire conversation. Let everyone participate with their own thoughts and ideas.
      4. Give everyone a chance to run the meeting. Taking a leadership role will help your kids build self esteem. Allow them to take turns calling the meeting to order and going through the family meeting agenda. I have provided a family meeting template below that you can print and use as your weekly agenda.
      5. Don’t make it all business. In addition to the important family stuff, having something fun in the agenda will keep your family engaged. Create a fun family tradition for the meetings or have a fun question everyone has to answer at the end.
      6. Post reminders. If you make new rules or discuss future plans, be sure to write them down and post them where everyone can see as a reminder of what was discussed.
      7. It’s okay to have a difference of opinion. Not everyone will agree, but finding a compromise can make everyone feel like they got something they wanted.
      Family Meeting Template Printable

      The image version of the family meeting template is above or you can use the pdf version.
      Hosting regular family meetings, making them fun, and encouraging your kids to participate, will help build their confidence while also creating a family bond.
      If you haven’t already planned your first family meeting, get out your calendar and get add it on there. It’s a great way to bring your whole family together!
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      10 Characteristics Of A Role Model

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      While people have the capability to be a rock of stability and achieve feats of human excellence, they also can fall victim to reckless mistakes and poor decisions. Good role models are like beacons of light that show you the way through their own example. Here are ten characteristics of a role model that make them natural leaders and serve to remind you of what is truly important.
      What Are Characteristics Of A Role Model?
      Having a role model to emulate often helps kids and even adults to achieve the results they desire and stay on a productive path. Role model qualities are worth striving to cultivate because they possess the ability to act as guardrails that protect the success and integrity of one’s life. Role model characteristics are important to exhibit to your children and help them develop as well.
      We can all serve as role models in various ways to our peers but as a parent it is our duty. We must exhibit the behavior we desire in our children to be an excellent role model. As Stanton E. Samenow Ph.D. points out, “Developmental psychologists emphasize that it is parents who constitute the most important role models in that their influence is crucial to their offspring’s personality development.”

      Willpower
      Willpower is the ability to act through adversity for the sake of a greater purpose. Ideal role models will often have overcome poor circumstances. They will gracefully deal with problematic situations in creative, intelligent ways to achieve their goals or overcome adversity. The ability to pull passion to succeed from within themselves is one of the admirable qualities of a role model.
      As a parent, demonstrating will power in the small things like having dinner before dessert is a good daily habit. Learning to have and exhibit will power in the small situations helps us to develop it and display it when it comes to bigger situations. In other words, doing the right thing, even when it feels hard to do.
      Confidence
      Confidence is a role model quality of belief that pushes a simple “yes” from the mind out into the world. One of the best ways to build confidence is to teach through encouragement. Setting high expectations and showing disappointment in a child’s failure to reach them is only setting them up for failure.
      Encourage your child, reward them with kind words as they work towards they goals, and praise their efforts. These things build confidence. Kids need a confident role model that teaches them to be confident too. Even if they aren’t certain of how to do something, a great role model will be confident that it can both be done if they put research and effort into it.

      Photo by Blaise Vonlanthen on Unsplash
      Dynamic
      Flexibility is not just a physical quality. It is also one of the important characteristics of a role mode. A person that is willing to vary their strategy and mold themselves into whatever is best for what they wish to achieve, is acting with a dynamic mentality.
      Imagine a car that also turns into a submarine, plane and spaceship. There are some situations where it might be best for it to fly, but others will demand it become a submarine. In life, trying only one approach in every situation is an easy way to fail. A great role model will know when to become relaxed, mindful, focused, dedicated, irreverent, humorous, intense and any other state of being that helps them to better manifest their intentions.
      Respectful
      Another of the important role model characteristics is respect. In other words, the art of understanding, accepting, considering and honoring one’s surroundings. An ideal role model respects themselves and all others. If they were to be challenged by anything from an angry driver to bullying at school, they would respond with understanding, empathy, and proper consideration of the results of their actions.
      Committed
      Effective role models persist in spite of setbacks and failures. The goal is more important to them than giving up is. Once they have committed to a decision, it is most often as good as done. Commitment is one of the characteristics of a role model that makes them reliable and worth looking up to.
      Role models possess a committed nature that is loyal and determined. At times, there will be certain circumstances where a commitment may no longer serve them. This is where being dynamic becomes even more important. However, the majority of time, a role model will consider carefully before they commit. Once committed, especially when other’s are relying on them, they will come through.
      Service-Oriented
      It’s important to teach your people that giving back to others in their community and beyond is necessary to be successful. A good role model volunteers their time and effort to be a contributing member of their community. Being of service in your community builds unity, teamwork skills, and creates a generous heart.
      Teach your kids the importance of service by regularly volunteering your time for causes and charities that matter to your family. Bring your children along so they can participate in service of their community as well.
      Self-Improvement
      The only way to grow and become a better person is to continually work on improving ourselves and our minds through education and conversation. Don’t be afraid to try new experiences, participate in conversations, and read books that open your mind to new ideas. This teaches your child to never stop growing as well.
      Making a habit of self-improvement allows us to grow and learn new things that can provide us a better life. A positive role model recognizes the importance of self-improvement and makes the growth mindset a way of life.
      Healthy Lifestyle
      A proper diet and plenty of exercise not only helps us live longer, it improves our brain function, gives us energy, and allows us to experience more of life. Our children follow our example so living a healthy lifestyle is an important characteristic of a good role model.
      Childhood obesity is on the rise and it leads to depression and disease in adulthood. Teaching your child healthy habits now will create good habits for the rest of their life. These habits will help them live a more fulfilling life.
      Be a role model through example by making healthy food choices and getting daily exercise. Include your child in these habits and teach them about making healthy choices.
      Honesty
      Honesty is an important family value to pass on. Sometimes being honest with your kids is one of the hardest things to do. Especially when it comes to past mistakes and missteps. But it shows your kids that you’re human too and you have made mistakes, but you’ve worked to do better.
      Being honest can be difficult, and it will come with challenges for young people too. However, showing a more vulnerable side of yourself and being honest even when it’s hard, will teach your kids to do the same.
      Honesty in a role model extends beyond just the words you speak. It also includes making your life an open book. Your kids should feel comfortable asking you anything and understanding who you are. Take your kids to work with you so they can see what you do everyday and why it’s important. Talk to them about how you create your family budget and what your financial priorities are and why. Keeping secrets about things that can help your child learn to be a better person won’t benefit either of you.
      Accountability
      And finally, the buck has to stop somewhere and that is with the person in charge. A good role model takes accountability for their actions and for the outcome of their plans. We are not always perfect and things don’t always work out as we thought they would so we have to own our mistakes and areas for opportunity so we can do better next time. We have to recognize what went wrong and be sure that those same errors don’t happen again.
      Conclusion- The Qualities Of A Role Model Make Them Natural Leaders
      So, there you have nine characteristics of a role model that can serve as roots of action. They are a great place to start on your quest for self-improvement. As a parent we are role models, whether we intend to be or not, so it is important to try to exhibit good role model qualities.
      Don’t let that contribute to parenting stress, rather remember to always do your best and be satisfied with that. Remember that you are leading your children through your words and actions. True role models walk the talk even in difficult situations. They are the kind of people who know how motivate others and make them want to be their best.
      Which of these positive role model characteristics is most important to you?
      Favorite Role Model Quotes:
      “A role model in the flesh provides more than inspiration; his or her very existence is confirmation of possibilities one may have every reason to doubt, saying, ‘Yes, someone like me can do this.” -Sonia Sotomayor
      “I think role models also start in the home with your parents.” -Dominique Wilkins
      “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” -James Baldwin
      “Being a role model…is equal parts being who you actually are and what people hope you will be.” -Meryl Streep
      “I think a role model is a mentor – someone you see on a daily basis, and you learn from them.” -Denzel Washington
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      Tips For Teaching Kids Responsibility

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      The primary task for us as parents is to raise responsible and competent adult human beings. Losing sight of this job is a disservice to us and our children. In failing to teach kids responsibility, we communicate to our child that we don’t think he or she is smart enough or capable enough to do an age-appropriate task. This robs them of the opportunity to do real work and internalize that they are capable, important and valued. Teaching responsibility to kids leads to happier, more capable adults.
      Are You Using Methods Guaranteed to Fail?

      A lot of us go wrong when we think that we are “teaching” responsibility. We might nag at our daughters to pick up their dirty laundry. We might yell at our sons when they forget to pass on a phone message. It’s easy to let frustration get the better of us in these situations, especially if it is the millionth time you’ve picked up dirty socks from the living room floor!  We need to keep in mind that nagging and yelling do not teach anything except bad interpersonal behaviors – and the children will reflect these bad behaviors right back to us, probably in the form of whining and temper tantrums.
      Like The Paparazzi, Kids Are Always Watching
      All of us have our own home-grown paparazzi, also known as our kids. They watch every move we make…and then, in Academy Award-winning performances, they imitate us. This includes how we handle our own responsibilities. They see us cook dinner, do the laundry, go to work. Granted, sometimes they think these are our hobbies and may need to be reminded that folding their underwear is not, in fact, your favorite pastime!
      It is our job to help our children grow into adult-level responsibility, and we have about 18 years to do this. Just like responsibility is a given in our lives, it should be a given in theirs. Being responsible is what we do, who we are – just a fact of life.
      Teaching Kids Responsibility In An Age Appropriate Way
      The key to making responsibility part of our child’s being is starting early. Even a toddler can have responsibilities she can do, with supervision.  Here are some basic examples of things young children can do to become more responsible, and contribute to a healthy family environment.
      Toddler Responsibility
      A toddler can:
      • Help with basic laundry task.  What child doesn’t want to help you match up socks?!• Put her empty cup on the dinner table; she can even help to set the table, or at least where she sits.• Put all the toys and blocks in the bin after playing with them.• Push chairs back under the table after finishing a meal, or coloring a picture.
      Responsibilities for 3- to 5-Year-Olds
      Preschoolers can:
      Help you dust the furniture, at least the lower pieces of furniture that don’t have much clutter.
      Help you fold and put away her clean laundry; this can help to learn colors; you may even make up some new names!
      Pull weeds in the garden, and plant new flowers.
      Pet and brush the dog; that’s a win-win situation for both!
      Responsibility for 6- to 10-Year Olds
      Older children can be responsible for:
      Putting her clothes in the hamper, and later hanging up or putting clean clothes away.
      Keeping his room neat, including vacuuming.
      Helping you rake leaves (and sometimes you just have to let them jump back in that raked-up pile!)
      Making herself breakfast, but nothing fancy.
      Feeding and giving fresh water to your pets.

      You can not escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today. -Abraham Lincoln

      Teach, Rinse, Repeat
      As children grow and mature, the level of responsibility we give them can increase. But even as they get older, we need to keep in mind that they are still practicing and won’t always get it right. When the inevitable slip happens, I take a deep breath and remember most of the time everybody does the best they can. Then I point him towards the vacuum and remind him for the 100th time not to track mud across the carpet.  I know that repetition is the key to developing the good habits that will serve my kids well the rest of their lives.
      I hope you found these tips for teaching children responsibility useful. What methods do you find most effective for teaching kids responsibility?
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      Why Have Kids Write A Letter Of Apology For Bad Behaviour

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      We are all human and we all make mistakes.  An important life lesson is learning to recognize our mistakes and apologize for them.  This shows that we are capable of self-reflection, empathy, and learning from our errors.  On occasion, this can be a hard lesson for even us adults.  It is important to teach your […] More