What Makes A Family Strong?

After enjoying ten days visiting with family, sharing meaningful moments with friends and their families, and learning how to express gratitude daily, I started thinking, "What makes a family strong?"

Several times this holiday we enjoyed the company of a very special family. The husband and wife were committed and loving. They spoke kindly to one another and the emotional tone at their family gatherings was one of enjoyment, sharing and relaxation. We ate slowly, we drank slowly, we kicked the soccer ball, then we played four square. The conversation ambled, it just walked where it wished, which was so enjoyable. Their daughter was full of glee. There was a natural ease about this family.

I did a spot of research when I got home and found a summary that is interesting.

See if you agree. Do you feel that these characteristics make a family strong?
What makes your family bonded, loving and strong?
What do you want to improve in order to make your family healthier and stronger?

What Makes a Family Strong?
Lucy Schrader, Building Strong Families Program Coordinator,
University of Missouri, Human Environmental Sciences Extension

Researchers believe that a combination of traits makes a family strong rather than just one single characteristic. Strengths come from how family members interact with each other, how they treat one another, and what families do as a group and as individuals to support the adults and children in the family.

In the August 2002 Child Trends Research Brief, researchers looked at family strengths data from two national surveys and found that adolescents and parents reported:

Being close to each other
Feeling concern and caring for one another
Interacting with each other

Their information suggests that the more strengths a family has, the better off the children will be. The researchers found a relationship between the following strengths and positive outcomes for children.

Strengths related to what families do:

1. Positive mental health in parents.

Children whose parents say that they feel calm, peaceful or happy are more likely than other children to be positively involved in school and less likely to act out or have emotional problems.

2. Everyday routines.

Families that tend to have regular routines and roles usually have children who do well in school and have greater self-control. Keeping these everyday routines (like eating together and doing household tasks) is associated with positive outcomes for adolescents. They are more likely to avoid delinquent behavior and less likely to use drugs.

3. Spending time together.

Having fun with one's family is related to better outcomes for adolescents. Again, adolescents are more likely to avoid delinquent behavior and less likely to use drugs. Quality time is important for happiness in family relationships.

4. Communication and praise.

Positive communication (being warm, respectful and interested in a child's opinions) is associated with the well-being of children. Two-way communication can encourage healthy behavior in adolescents.

Adolescents who have parents that use praise and who go to their parents for advice are less likely to have behavioral and emotional problems.

5. Monitoring, supervision, and involvement.

When parents use praise and encouragement, show awareness and monitor adolescents' schoolwork and social life, their children tend to do better in school and show more socially positive behaviors.

Interesting....Be strong.