It’s in our name, Harbor FAMILY Chiropractic. We know there is much more to raising a family than just acquiring a spouse and having babies. We emphasize a great deal on physical health, clearly, but we also think there is much to glean from learning how to create a positive family environment in the home. The emotional state of the home directly affects the physical state of our bodies, young and old. Here you will see a few key elements from well known family author, Michael Grose. We believe these tips will help you to raise happy, confident, well-behaved children…
* CREATE A SENSE OF FAMILY COMMUNITY
As families are becoming increasingly similar in this media age, it’s important to build and maintain distinctive traditions and rituals that make each family special and signify a child’s significance within his primary social group – his family. Creating a sense of community in your family and building traditions and rituals also gives kids strong anchors back into family when they get older.
Rituals can be as simple as the way you habitually say to your child “I love you” each day as he goes to school or the way you always read their favourite book before they go to bed. The permanence and uniqueness of these rituals give them much of their significance, they’re like coat hooks upon which we hang our family memories.
Try to focus more on what’s good for family, rather than each individual family member and start insisting that kids take an interest in each other, so the whole family benefits.
How to develop rituals that bind your family together:
* Have regular family mealtimes that everyone in the family attends. Family mealtime is a simple but powerful ritual that brings people together.
* Have a regular one-on-one activity that involves each child such as a bedtime story or a weekly walk that you both can look forward to.
* Celebrate birthdays, Mother’s Day and Christmas in your family’s own unique or special way.
* Ask your children about the rituals, special occasions and celebrations that they most enjoy and let them contribute ideas on how to celebrate them.
Michael Grose is one of Australia’s most popular writers and speakers on parenting and family matters. He’s written six books, including the best-selling Why First Borns Rule The World And Last Borns Want To Change It ~ and he educates both parents and teachers around the world on how to raise happy, well-adjusted kids and resilient teenagers ~ check out his blog HERE}
