Five tips for running a harmonious bubble

Parenting coach and educator Joseph Driessen shares five tips for running a harmonious household under lockdown. He says the key is getting the family to work as a team, and for parents, that might mean listening more and speaking less.Parenting coach and educator Joseph Driessen shares his tips for running a harmonious household under lockdown.He says the key is getting the family to work as a team, and for parents, that might mean listening more and speaking less. Listen to the full interview with Joseph DriessenBe the captain of yourself and your shipLook after yourselfFind a time and place to centre your yourselfReflect and positive self-talkAcknowledge what is difficultJournalPractice mindfulness / meditation / a walk / running etcLook after your relationship with your partnerWork together: Care and maintain the relationship.Engine room of a family = Core harmony and love of the parentsChildren will then be deliriously happy too.Work together to steer the shipA (rough) for plan each weekA (rough) for plan Each dayProvide a basic structureGood eatingPeriods of rest and quietFreedom and playIndividual activitiesJointly coming together2. A happy family runs itself.1 Family is like a sailing boat, balanced and steers itself with constant little interventions2 Find the rhythm of your family3 Nudge towards harmony each day anew.4 Accept the fluctuations and steady the ship5 Every day is a new adventure6 Leadership flexibility and problem solving.3. Every member of your family is part of the crew1 A place of their own2 A series of jobs.3 Coaching. Scaffolding. Delegation. Ownership. Reporting and coaching4 Part of a team. Making contribution.5 T.E.A.M motto: Together Everyone Achieves More.6 Create a family charter, either informally or formally.7 Manage each child individually8 Then their relationships with others.4. Practice your emotional intelligence skills each day.1 Listen more and speak less.2 Help your children to recognize, accept and honour, label and manage their emotions.3 Coach socially acceptable way to express these emotions.4 Show empathy and patience.5. Facilitate independent play and learning (Learn what great parents and teachers do)1 Facilitate your children to play / learn independently2 All children have their own interests which you can build on3 Activating their delight and imagination with a new world you introduce to them4 Letting them process and build their interpretation of that new-found universe5 Providing resources…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details