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With 2013 rapidly approaching, it’s time to count all your blessing from the past year and set goals for the future.
Here are our resolutions to make the upcoming year a healthy and happy one for your family. We hope you’ll consider adopting some of these, as well:
- Family dinner – Between work and extracurricular activities, trying to sync your family’s schedules can be difficult. Make it a point for every member of the family to be home for dinner at least three times a week. Take this opportunity to turn off the TV and find out what is going on in your children’s lives. Encourage them to ask questions about your day, too.
- Integrate lessons into conversation – Talking to your kids about drugs and alcohol can be uncomfortable for all parties involved. Instead of sitting your child down for a “serious talk,” try to incorporate these lessons into your normal conversations about school and friends.
- Family policy – A new year is a great time to review your family policy, or if you don’t have one, to create it. A family policy doesn’t have to be elaborate, but it allows everyone in the family to know their role. This includes rules like curfew, chore assignments and designates consequences for not participating in the family structure.
- Involve yourself with your child’s social media activity – Respect social media rules: If your child is under 14, he or she should not have a Facebook account. If your child is old enough, be sure to get their password and login information. If your teen tries to block you or doesn’t accept you as a friend, don’t allow them to use that site. Make sure to explain why this is important and not “because I said so.”
- Be a good example –As mentioned in our previous blog post, being a good example means teaching by showing. Avoid drinking at parties where there are adolescents, as they will quickly associate alcohol with celebrations and gatherings.
- Family outings – Set aside one or two weekend days a month for a family activity. It could be anything from working in the garden together or going to see a movie. It will strengthen the family bond.
- Positive Reinforcement – Try to remove “don’t” from your vocabulary. Rather than say “don’t fight with your sister” try saying “please be kind to one another.” Praise them for their wise choices and let them know you are proud of them.
- Equal parenting – Despite the growing number of stay-at-home dads, mothers are usually assigned the job of discipline and enforcing the rules. Make sure both parents are involved in teaching your child the difference between right and wrong.
- Be patient and understanding – If you find out your child broke a rule, stay calm. You want your child to come to you when something is wrong, not be afraid of you. Try to avoid unrealistic punishments like “you’re grounded for a year,” as they will soon learn how to take advantage of bending the rules.
- Give back – Teach your child the importance of volunteering long before they are looking to beef-up a college application. Younger children can help collect donations and be a part of the delivery. Older children can volunteer at soup kitchens or animal shelters. There are literally thousands of ways to give back to your community so there is sure to be one that will interest your child.
