GUIDE for the FAMILY MEETING AGENDA:
1. It’ s important to review the last agenda to reassure that issues are being addressed. This will
also allow for the kids to see that parents are hearing the concerns. If there are on-going,
repetitive issues that are not being solved, this will let parents know that further
brainstorming, consulting needs to be done. We also need a lot of repetition for new ideas to
permeate and create new brain connections. Reviewing each week will help the brain connect
to new ideas.
2. Family Meetings are primarily about communication. So, everyone in the house should get a
chance to speak up and say what is on their mind. Even if they have a conflict or issue with
mom or dad, children should be allowed to voice this in a respectful manner.
3. Make the meeting FUN. Use a bean bag to toss for each speaker and when the family member
is done they get to choose the next person by tossing the bean bag. Have each person say
something great about the person they are tossing the bean bag to.
4. If the meeting gets too lengthy, take a break, and come back to the meeting either after
dinner or the next day. Let the family know when the remainder of the meeting will occur.
5. Celebrate success. If a problem was solved over the last week, give a shout out and hoopla to
those who contributed to the solution. Praise everyone for working together!
6. Don’t give up! Creating a smoothly running family meeting takes time and patience. Be
consistent. Try to set the meeting for the same time every week where all the family members
attend. I have seen kids complain repeatedly that “mom and dad didn’t have the family meeting
this week.” So, remember that if you give up on it, your kids will too. If you stay with it, so
they will and soon they will be using it to communicate more openly with you. That’ s just
Money in the Bank right there!