Holding family meetings on a regular basis has many benefits for a family. First of all, family meetings help open lines of communication. Second, they help family members, especially children, learn to work and solve problems within a group. Having input into decisions will help boost children's self-esteem, because they will feel heard and respected. Finally, children who take part in family meetings are given some responsibility for what goes on in their lives.
Family meetings work best with families whose children are school-aged or older.
At first, it is usually best to keep family meetings short - about 15 minutes. As families get better at communication and decision-making, the meeting times can be lengthened. What to Discuss at Family Meetings Family meetings can be used to discuss and deal with a variety of issues including family problems, to plan family activities, to discuss chores, and to discuss good things that have happened. Parents should be careful not to dominate the conversation. Every family member should be given a chance to express his or her views.