How to IMPROVE FAMILY COEXISTENCE

These days we spend many hours away from home, both adults at work and children at school and extracurricular activities. When the day ends what we want is to rest and enjoy our family. But it is not always easy. Arguments over who takes the garbage down, whether or not there is order in the house or whether dishes were left unwashed are very common.

Coping with this situation becomes another job and becomes a source of stress and discomfort. In Psychology-Online we know how difficult family life can be, that is why in this article, we will help you with 10 tips on how to improve family life.

Index

1. What is family coexistence
2. Types of family life
3. Why is family life important
4. Tips to improve family life

Family coexistence are the relationships that occur between members of a family, whatever the type, in the place where they live together. It includes the way of communicating, the roles of the different members, the activities, the responsibilities of each one, etc.

No two families are the same, so there are no guidelines that work for everyone. Any improvement that we want to make in family life requires taking into account the special conditions of the family, as well as the individual characteristics of each of its members. At the end of this article you have 10 tips to improve family life.

There are as many types of family life as Types of family. Sometimes all the members live together. Others, as with joint custody, the children live for a time with each parent. Others are expanded with the arrival of another member from outside the family nucleus, such as a grandfather or grandmother, uncles or cousins. We are going to see some types of family coexistence:

• Nuclear family: it is the classic family. Fathers or mothers and children who live together.
• Single parent family: one of the parents and her sons or daughters.
• Extended family: the nuclear family and some external member such as grandparents, uncles, etc.
• Reconstituted family: one of the members of a new couple or both bring children to a new relationship.

A well-structured and managed family life can improve family life and provide security for different members. A healthy environment in which there is respect, tolerance, support for, responsibility, love and understanding will make a difference in the development of children and family life.

Each of the members will benefit from a good family life in general. This becomes more evident when a problem arises that the family must face. On the other hand, a difficult coexistence in which there is no understanding, communication or that is governed by authoritarian norms, can affect the self-esteem of its members and drive them away. A good coexistence is what distinguishes a house from a home. In this article, we tell you how to have a happy and united family.

How to improve family life? Finally, do not miss the following 10 tips to know what is needed for a good family life:

1. Set fair standards: the rules in a family are very important, but the most important thing is that they have a meaning. By this I mean that, sometimes, family members, especially children, do not understand why they can or cannot do a series of things. Therefore, whether they are rules of schedules, food, order or any other issue, they must have a reason. If you write the rules, you can refer to them when necessary. In addition, you can adapt some with the collaboration of all family members.
2. Distribute the tasks: in the division of tasks you must take into account the age, the time that each one spends at home, their possibilities and her responsibilities. We are not going to ask a child to take care of the meals, but they can help set up and clear the table, make sure that the pet does not lack water, water the plants, etc. If everyone has her role, the discussions about the tasks will decrease.
3. Plan family activitiesWhether it's watching a movie or spending the day at the beach, family leisure activities bring your members together. This way you will get out of the routine of tasks, duties or work and you will learn to value your time together.
4. Do family reunions: Another tip to improve family life is to have family reunions. It is good that at least once a week you all sit down to talk. Everyone should take their turn to tell what they want without interruptions or distractions. Communication will improve, bonding and group membership will become stronger.
5. Dedicate separate time to each childAlthough family activities and gatherings serve to unite the family, we must not forget that Each of the sons or daughters has individual needs and requires time alone with the parents or mothers.
6. Responsibilities of each member: to have a harmonious family coexistence, each member must have their responsibilities well defined. Keep your things in order, both in your space and in common spaces, for example.
7. Eat as a family: we have so many things to do each on their own that it is difficult to coincide. Therefore, whenever possible, eat as a family.
8. Make a family group: a family group on an instant messaging social network can help. If any problem arises or plans change, everyone will be up to date.
9. Work assertive communication: many times it is not what is said, but how it is said. That's why spending a little time improving the way you communicate with each other can make a difference. Knowing how to ask for what you need and disagreeing with the rules, without offending, are some of the things you will learn about assertive communication.
10. Share quality timeQuality time is the complete opposite of sitting looking at your smartphones. Little quality time is worth much more than hours and hours together, but absent.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to How to improve family life, we recommend that you enter our category of Social psychology.

• Castanyer, O. (2003). Assertiveness: expression of healthy self-esteem. Bilbao: Desclée de Brouwer
• Coca, A. (2017). The child's life: A child with separated parents. Catalunya: Edicions de Rúbrica Editorial.
• Hayman, S. (2010). My children and your children: Create a new family and live together successfully. Madrid: Pyramid.