As we all know, in our own family units being together can be both incredibly wonderful and equally challenging. Many feelings can arise as things happen, change, etc., and because we are different people, coming together in one space, there is bound to be some chaos. This calls for an intentional effort to come together, some way, somehow!
Similar to a classroom community, a family unit can benefit from co-creating a Family Charter to help navigate all kinds of situations and help enable all be on the same page on the day to day. Creating a Family Charter allows each family member to articulate how they want to feel at home (or when together out in the world), work together to brainstorm, and agree upon behaviors that support those feelings and come up with a plan when conflict happens.
The Family Charter is made up of 3 basic questions:
How do we want to feel in our family?
What can we do in order to have these feelings?
How will we handle conflict when it arises?
Exploring these questions can build empathy and understanding for each family member and can go a long way toward creating the climate you’d like to have in your home. Additionally, this is a great opportunity to collaborate creatively together.
Some important considerations when creating a Family Charter:
Find a time when everyone is feeling calm, focused, and ready to work together
Do in a comfortable area, like a living room or dining table
Make sure your kid(s) feels like an equal partner/participant
Truly collaborate, hear all voices/ideas
Keep it simple, so it creates clarity rather than confusion
For a full rundown of creating a Family Charter at home, please join us for APTT night on 1/30! There will be copies of a family charter worksheet that walks you through the steps, puts them all together, and provides suggestions for keeping your family’s charter thriving!
Comments