The “Bad & Good” Game Approach
This goes for whether you have young or older children in your family, but more so if they are small, as the game can teach them empathy and solidarity with the people close to them. Over dinner (you should be striving to have dinner as a family as much as possible to build the connection) everyone should take turns and say a negative thing and a positive thing that happened to them that day (obviously adjusted to age-appropriate levels if small kids are present).
This might seem silly to you, but seeing others resolve and talk about ups and downs right when they are happening, is amazing for young children and it can help them relate to others better in time. Plus, with time, this little game can end up getting your kids to open up to you more or just talk during dinnertime. It’s an amazing thing to do with any young children in your family, from your own kids to grandkids, nephews, and nieces, anyone really.
Comfort over Shock
A study conducted by top universities (MIT, Yale, and Harvard) has shown that people are more likely to cooperate and be flexible when they are discussing things in comfortable settings, especially on cushioned surfaces. That’s why you should strive to have difficult conversations with your partner or any family member on the couch, or, if you have padded seats, around the breakfast table. It will make everyone more accommodating, and it will lessen the shock of the news if it’s not so good. Give it a try, we found it worked wonders for our family.
Be There For Them When You Can
If you are close to your family, you should make sure that you are as close to them as possible: especially if you happen to have grandchildren. This does not mean you have to meddle when the parents haven’t asked you to, but rather to be there when they ask for help. Analysis of different studies has shown that help from family members can lessen the stress on new mothers and, in the long run, raise more well-adjusted children, than those who are confined to their nuclear family. So when you can, make sure you accept the offer to babysit, it can be a win-win situation for everyone involved!
