Family Meetings can be a great way to encourage cooperation and closeness. Here are some ideas on how to hold a family meeting:

• Hold the meeting once a week at a time when everyone in the family can attend. Keep the set time; don't change it to fit everyone's schedule. Mark the time on a calendar and make it as important as a work meeting.
• Take the phone off the hook so there are no interruptions. This helps your children see how important the meetings are to you.
• Parents should plan what to discuss in the meeting. The topic could have been suggested at the last meeting or it could have been something that came up during the week. Place an agenda list on the refrigerator and discuss it at each family meeting time. As family problems come up during the week, write them down on the list.
• The meeting should be kept simple and short.
• Ground rules for meetings should be set ahead of time, along with consequences for when the family meeting rules are broken. Some rules might be: no interrupting, no yelling, pay attention and listen to each other, no arguing and no teasing each other.
• Go on to problem-solving. For example parents may ask, “Does anyone have a problem they would like to bring up?” Teach your children that if they complain, it is helpful for them to think of a solution. A person who is not part of the solution is part of the problem.
• Decisions should be made by family agreement. If an agreement can not be reached, then the decision should be made at the next meeting.
• Elect a new leader and secretary at each meeting. The leader runs the meeting and calls on members. The leadership should rotate every meeting and other members should support the leader. The secretary can take notes on what was discussed and what decisions were reached.
• The meetings could either begin or end by each family member giving a compliment to the person they are sitting beside. For instance, “You look nice today."
• Set a date for the next meeting and plan some activities together as a family.
• Try to hold the meeting at a clear table and chairs instead of in the family room. Don't have the meeting during a meal.
• Always try to end the meeting by the leader choosing something fun for everyone to do. For example, choosing a snack, playing a game together, or telling each other why they are grateful of one another.