Grandpa Richards Kids

Positive Parenting & Your Goals

The previous 10 postings about guidelines has probably already generated a lot of ideas about goals you could set for you and your children in a positive home environment. Here are some specific parenting goals you may want to share with your children.

Goal # 1 for Positive Parenting: Schedule More Family Time

People are busy, kids and parents included. Make sure there is a block of time each day (with few exceptions) where the family comes together. This means work, chore and activity schedules should be coordinated for maximum family benefit.

Invest in a family calendar, if you don’t already have one, so everyone can write down his or her commitments and time can be set aside together. Whether it’s sharing a meal, playing a game or even enjoying a favorite T.V. program, make sure there is family time. Getting kids involved in extra-curricular activities has positive benefit, but over-scheduling children to the detriment of family time benefits no one.

In addition to sharing time altogether, it’s also great to set aside a bit of alone time with each of your kids. This doesn’t have to happen every day, but your kids need time to be able to regularly communicate with their parents privately. Private talks shouldn’t just be reserved for when there is a problem or issue that needs to be discussed. Set a schedule with your spouse or talk to a family member or friend that will give you time with your kids on a regular basis.