Template

Family meeting template

Once a week at home: thanks, the week's plans, one thing to sort out together, and something fun to end on.

30 minutesFor Parents and their children, or anybody sharing a homeAgenda room

The agenda, with a time for each part

Thank-yous5 min
- What did somebody in the family do this week that you want to thank them for?
This week's plans7 min
- Who needs a lift, and who is out on which evening?
One thing to sort out10 min
- What is bothering somebody, and what could we try?
Money or chores, if needed5 min
- Who is doing which jobs this week?
Something fun3 min
- What shall we do together this weekend?

How the notes read afterwards

A made-up example, so you can see the shape. In a real call each line carries the words that were said and who said them.

Thanks. To Sam for walking the dog every day while Mum was away.

Plans. Football on Tuesday and Thursday; Dad drives Thursday.

Sorted. Arguments over the computer: a timer, 45 minutes each, starting tomorrow.

Fun. Pancakes on Saturday; Lily chooses the film.

Running it well

Keep it short and the same night every week. Children come to a meeting that is predictable and ends with something nice.
Let a child run it, taking turns. They take it more seriously when it is theirs.
One problem per meeting. Five problems in one evening feels like a telling-off, not a family meeting.

Ways to change it

With teenagersFifteen minutes, food on the table, and they set one item on the agenda.

HousematesBills, cleaning, guests and noise; the same shape works.

When to skip it. On a week when everybody is tired and nothing needs sorting, do just the thank-yous and the fun part.

Questions

How do you run a family meeting?

Pick the same time each week, start with thank-yous, go through the week's plans, sort out one problem together, and end with something fun.

How long should a family meeting be?

Fifteen to thirty minutes, shorter with young children.

What should we talk about at a family meeting?

The week's plans, chores and money, one thing that is bothering somebody, and what to do together.

What happens in the room

Everybody joins from the link, with no account. The agenda sits beside the call and each item fills in with what was said about it, under the name of the person who said it.

More templates

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