Building a Strong, Asset-Building Family

(from The Search Insitute's MVPParent.com website)
The bond that links your true family is not one of blood but of respect and joy in each other’s life.
--Richard Bach, American author

What do you dream your family will be like? What are your hopes for each relationship? Each person? Building a strong, asset-building family is about having a vision of what you hope for. You want each person to live to her full potential. You want relationships to be strong and close. You want every family member to have as many Developmental Assets as possible. Here’s how to create a strong, asset-building family.

Tips for all parents:

• Listen to your child and respect what he is telling you. Let him know that you will always be there for him, and work on building a strong relationship that is characterized by warmth, boundaries, and respect.

• As a family, talk about what your hopes are. Listen closely to your kids. They often have invaluable insight.

• Read Search Institute’s national study Building Strong Families and see how your family compare.

• Create ways to regularly spend time as a family. Eat dinner together as often as you can. Consider having a weekly or monthly family night to play board games, watch a movie, exercise, or do something adventurous. If you’re having trouble finding something you all enjoy doing together, suggest playing a multi-player video game with your kids. Have them teach you how to play. You may be surprised at how much fun you’ll have once you get the hang of it.

Read more here.