I really enjoy looking through Kidloutions Blog. They have some wonderful tips for families
and educators. Their latest blog suggest 6 tips for a calmer family. See if you can incorporate 1 or all into your
family. Please be sure to check Kidloutions
out for more helpful tips.
1. Be a Good Role
Model. Set the tone for a calm family by
being a calm parent. Take care of your
own emotional responses so your kids can learn to do the same. If you have over-the-top responses and are
prone to strong emotional outbursts, get help for yourself, either by reading
about managing your emotions better, going for counseling or therapy or hiring
an emotion coach. There are also online
programs that support adult in learning better ways to handle situations
2. Talk About
Feelings. Help your kids understand that
all feelings are okay. Help them learn
ways to cope with their feelings and resolve the difficult ones. If you struggle with this yourself, get help,
as noted above. Our resources were
specifically created to assist you in helping kids with feelings. Keep
communication open about emotions.
3. Build
Routines. Routines are the building
blocks of stability for kids and for us.
Erratic schedules breed uncertainty and stress. Kids particularly thrive on routines. You can build in routines for the morning,
evening, bedtimes and weekends. While we
always need to maintain an air of flexibility, a routine provides a foundation
for a sense of order and calm.
4. Eat Meals
Together. There’s something to be said for gathering around the table to share
a family meal. Research shows that there
is more family harmony and that kids fare much better when family meals are
part of their lives. It’s a great time to connect and model problem-solving
skills.
5. Have Family
Meetings. This one activity can make all
the difference in the world for your family.
During family meetings, have simple ground rules so everyone knows what
to expect. A great start would be that
one person talks at a time and there is no yelling allowed. Help each other keep these rules in mind
during your meeting.
6. Have a Code. When tempers flare and things are starting
heat up with conversations, etc., have a special code word that any family may
use to STOP the conversation, take a breather and come back when thing are more
calm and collected. This is a great way
to model to kids how to take care of themselves when they are getting too
upset, also.
