Family Meeting: The 8 Rules of Domestic EngagementNote: For more information and special deals related to the topics on this page, place your cursor over the double-underlined words. All information supplied by Kontera.com. 1 Choose a Day and Time - and Stick to It.Pick a day and time that poses the fewest conflicts.Once you set your meeting time, stick to it.
2 Designate a Meeting Room.Choose somewhere comfortable to gather the troops. The kitchen table or living room sofa are often ideal.The goal is to make sure everyone is comfy, can easily be heard by all, and has a finite place and space so there's no wandering off by the younger members. 3 Have an Agenda.This will keep everyone on topic so you won't forget anything. Post a piece of paper on the fridge the day of the meeting and let the kids sign up topics they want to discuss.Items to consider including: * Problems. These should be group problems, not personal. This is not a good time to discuss Eric's less-than-stellar grades. Do that privately. * Fun stuff. Have everyone share a good thing that happened to him or her this past week. Praise each kid. * Future fun stuff. Plan vacations and school holidays and even next weekend's activities. 4 Appoint Roles.You'll need a moderator. If the kids are old enough, take turns.Have a token object to denote who has the floor. It could be a teddy bear. A favorite toy. It could be your key chain. Whatever. When you've got the keys, you've got the floor. That way there's no misunderstandings about whose turn it is to talk. 5 Start with Scheduling.One by one, everyone will go through all his or her commitments for the week. Band. Soccer practice. Doctor's appointments. Field trips. Golf games.Write these on a calendar. 6 Add Cleaning and Chore Duties.Discuss who is assigned what in the week ahead.Be sure to review the schedule for the week ahead to ensure the tasks assigned can actually be completed. (Not sure how many chores are appropriate for you child's age? This guide to Divvying Up the Chores can help.) 7 Vote (Sometimes).Sometimes, the group will need to decide a scheduling question.In that case, decide whether it will be a raising of hands, or a write-in ballot on a piece of scrap paper. Then again, some matters are adult decisions. Say that. 8 End on a Good Note.At the end of the meeting, summarize the major points so it's clear what was decided. Then have dessert and play a game.This will make meeting a lot more fun to look forward to. Create a Chore Chart
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