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Employee Assistance Program → Topics and Tips: Healthy Families

Healthy Families

Families come in all shapes and sizes. Regardless of their makeup, healthy, strong families share certain attributes.

Healthy families: 

  • communicate openly 
  • adapt to life changes and stressors
  • have clearly defined but flexible responsibilities
  • spend quality time together regularly
  • are part of the community
  • are committed to each other and love each other unconditionally

Communication, respect, and acceptance are the building blocks of a healthy family. A healthy family also has clear limits, discipline without using debilitating shame or guilt, and maintains well-defined boundaries. Every family experiences conflict. There are bound to be disagreements. Families that learn to resolve conflict in a positive, supportive manner can turn such challenges into an opportunity for growth and connection.

Tips for Parents

For more information or resources on parenting, contact EAP at 240-740-6500.

  • Be consistent in clearly explaining your expectations and consequences, then follow through with the consequences.
  • Take time for yourself: You can be a better parent if you take care of your own needs.
  • Treat children with respect: Treat them how you would like to be treated. If you're angry, think before you speak to give constructive advice rather than destructive criticism. More on anger management.
  • Be supportive and emphasize the positive.
  • Set children up for success: Give children age-appropriate opportunities to choose, negotiate, and learn to care for themselves.
  • Be a role model: Take an honest look at your own behaviors and activities. Make an effort to change behaviors you wouldn't find acceptable in your children.
  • Establish clear boundaries: Know your limits and openly address your concerns in a rational manner before you've reached the end of your rope.
  • Nurture your children: Give unconditional love. For example, say "I love you and we can work together to do things better," instead of "Why can't you just do it right?"

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