7 Ways to Build a Good Family Relationship

Sure, we love our families, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Family units are as varied and unique as people are themselves. But despite the differences in upbringing, education, or social community, there are universal ways to help you to build a good relationship with your family members.

Socialize--

It’s important to spend time with your family in social settings, and it’s easy to create these within your own home at meal times or game nights. Give your family time to have fun together.

Taking the opportunity to attend events as a family is great, too, especially when one or more family members are involved. Support one another at concerts, swim meets, and work picnics.

Communicate--

Make sure a healthy dose of your socializing includes engaging with one another. As much fun as going to a movie might be, it doesn’t offer space to explore ideas and discuss the things that are going on in everyday life.

Decide--

Involve the family in important decisions and planning. This gives everyone an opportunity to recognize their importance, and having a regular family meeting will provide a place for everyone to practice communication and cooperation.

Talk about family rules and their purpose. Assign chores. If needed, you can discuss and resolve conflicts as well.

Work--

Provide opportunities for your family to work together on different projects. This could mean assigning chores your children must do as a team or getting everyone out in the yard to trim and water and weed.

You might be in a situation where one or both parents are working. This could require teaching one another to give support by doing tasks they wouldn’t normally do. If your kids spend the day at Lolo’s Little Darlins Daycare, everyone might need to pitch in for dinner and chores in the evening. If Dad is working from home, someone might take the trash out for him even if it’s not their turn.

Learn--

Children are learning every day, and some of the best things they can learn won’t come from a classroom. When you take them along on errands, give them a bit of responsibility. Filling the gas tank? Put them in charge of the gas cap. Going grocery shopping? Have them help pick out the best produce.

Getting them involved in daily tasks and conversations will prepare them to navigate their own finances and communities later on in addition to showing they are an important piece in taking care of your family now.

Grow--

In all these things, more than anything you’ll be learning to grow and move forward through difficult things. You want your children to learn that they can trust you to follow through.

Help them to learn how to work through conflicts without letting their emotions run the discussion, and teach them to forgive their brothers and sisters, knowing their mistakes won’t be held against them either.

All For One and One For All--

Each of these activities should be done as a family and on an individual level. By strengthening those one-on-one connections, you’ll build more unity in your family activities, and having those bonds will become increasingly important and you face more of life’s challenges. So when you run to the grocery store, grab a kid and spend a few personal minutes chatting.