Family Resiliency

A strong family relationship provides a sense of belonging and security to all family members. Spending time together can further build emotional stability, increase self-confidence, and improve social skills.

On this page, Penn State Extension has compiled a list of educational resources on children and families, including family resilience and diversity, family meals, and bonding activities. Information on adolescence and parents as role models is included, as well.

Family Relationships and Spending Time Together

Spending time as a family has many benefits. It creates fond memories, strengthens sibling bonds, and builds positive parent-child relationships. This, in turn, leads to higher levels of adolescent self-esteem and life satisfaction, as well as lower risks of alcohol and drug use.

To build a strong relationship with your children, begin by planning and setting aside designated family time. This can help create a calming environment and make kids feel an important part of the family. More to that, spending quality time together will encourage positive social behavior and instill a sense of responsibility.

One simple way to strengthen your family relationship is by having meals together. Family mealtimes have positive effects on children’s behavior and academic performance. Dinnertime conversations reinforce positive communication patterns and provide a sense of security and togetherness.

Other family activities to consider include scheduling move nights, going on day trips, volunteering, and cooking together.

Device and Social Media Usage

Be it dinnertime, vacations, or after school activities, spending tech-free time together with your kids maximizes the potential for real-life bonds.

Nowadays, approximately three-quarters of teens own a mobile device. While it’s a great way for parents to communicate with their kids, placing boundaries on device usage is also important. Setting ground rules and providing clear expectations can minimize possible problematic situations and feelings of frustration and distrust.

When discussing cell phone usage, parents should place emphasis on children’s social media use, as well. Guiding kids to be good digital citizens and teaching them to treat others with respect is essential. Topics to discuss include sharing information and photos, dealing with online bullying, and handling offensive or sexual messages.

Strengthening Families and Building Resiliency

From making friends to coping with divorce or death in the family, children can face a range of challenges. The ability to cope with adversity often arises from the family’s resilience skills.

At the core of every highly resilient family lies a safe and nurturing relationship. To build a solid foundation for facing obstacles, it’s important to prioritize family bonding and collective efforts for dealing with stress.

Acknowledging and meeting your child's need for belonging is a good way to strengthen your family bonds and build resiliency. Parents should remember to encourage positive risk-taking and discuss the outcomes and lessons learned from failing.

Scheduling regular family meetings is another way to improve family resilience. These meetings can be an excellent tool for resolving issues and brainstorming solutions together.