DEMOCRACY & FAMILY

Following the skills and competences, we have learned from "Parent Education" I thought to add the obvious next step, which is how to implement those within the family.

Let us remember the INTER PERSONAL intelligence, dealing with a kind and compassionate way of interacting with others, and the INTRA PERSONAL intelligence, which is the way we view and respect our self.

Those two come into play when we move on to the daily task of making DEMOCRACY work in the family.

I have chosen one day every week for training in DEMOCRACY and the tasks might be structured as follows:

SUNDAY from 12:00:
Family gathering to plan the week ahead: shopping, meals, cleaning, tidying the bed and room, laundry, baking, cooking, gardening; visits, excursions and activities.

A grid could be made to put on the fridge, indicating, who is doing what, when, how and where.

Make it interesting, and age appropriate, for the children. Next Sunday, take it down to evaluate, how everyone was doing (and why not)!

When the gathering is over, and all is planned, it is time to go shopping, Make it a family event; teach children to be conscious consumers and to be mindful of, what they put in their mouth.

Have them read labels; discuss what the E-numbers mean; if they want processed food, well first they have to remember, the best food is home cooked.

When the weekly shopping is over, it is time for some quality family time, preferably outdoors. Make an effort to introduce them to activities in fresh air, where they can move around; forest walking and playing; riding bicycles; beaches...that sort of thing never gets boring.

It is, of course, evident to integrate those activities into your HOME SCHOOL, but more on that later...

Now, DEMOCRACY has to do with a peaceful way of managing differences of opinion. Be aware of the dynamics in your family; make sure every person has a voice and every person has the freedom to express her/himself and to agree or to disagree to ideas and suggestions coming up.

The way language and body language is used, must be mindful.
No shouting; no accusations; no disrespect.
Whenever one is speaking, give that person a token to hold. When the person has made her/his case, pass it on to the next in line

As adults, be mindful of this: it is not good for children to be given a level of making decisions, beyond what their age and personality can master. It might seem to be a way to respect their individuality and personal freedom, but it can actually be scary for them. They need to know, we, as adults, will sometimes have to explain, why certain things and ideas are not possible right now.

Maybe next year: the idea might be great, but for the moment we will have to leave it in the "Box of Suggestions"!!!