Section 5.3 Keeping the Family Healthy Objectives List some characteristics of healthy families. Describe four skills families need to stay healthy. Identify places where families can go for help with their problems.

Quick Quiz Which of the following statements accurately describe your family relationships? I enjoy spending time with my family. We find it easy to say “I love you.” When I have a problem, I can confide in my parents. My parents understand my goals. Using these statements as a starting point, describe the qualities of a healthy family. Switch to QuickTake version of the quiz.

Healthy Families Healthy families share certain characteristics: caring, commitment, respect, appreciation, empathy, communication, and cooperation. Caring and Commitment People in healthy families really care about each other through good times and bad times. Respect and Appreciation Family members make each other feel important. Empathy The ability to understand another person’s thoughts or feelings is called empathy. Communication Family members can tell each other what they honestly think and feel. Cooperation Responsibilities are divided fairly among family members.

Useful Skills for Families Healthy families know how to resolve conflicts express emotions make decisions manage their time

Resolving Conflicts Siblings, or brothers and sisters, compete for their parents’ attention, for possessions, and for recognition. When trying to resolve conflicts, family members need to talk openly, honestly, and lovingly. Good communication skills are key to conflict resolution.

Expressing Emotions It is important to express your emotions in constructive ways. It is better to focus on your own feelings. Listen to the other person’s concerns. If family members feel loved and appreciated, they are often more willing to help solve problems.

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Making Decisions Families often use decision-making skills to resolve conflicts. By using decision-making skills, you can avoid an argument.

Managing Time Most families don’t have much time to spend together. Healthy families tend to have strong ties with other relatives.

Group Juggling In this activity you will work with others to accomplish a difficult task. Materials (per group) 3 lightweight balls, volleyball size Try This Form a large circle with 10 other people. Starting with one person and going clockwise, count off from 1 to 11. Then decide how you will pass the ball around the circle. It is best to pass the ball across the circle to the opposite side (for example, from 1 to 7, 7 to 2, 2 to 8, and so on).

Group Juggling Person 1 throws the ball across the circle to the next person according to the decided order. That person throws the ball to the next person, and so on across the circle. Continue passing the ball until it has gone around the circle five times. If the ball drops, just pick it up and continue passing it around. Repeat Steps 3 and 4, but with two balls instead of one. Start one ball with person 1 and the other with person 3. When you have mastered “juggling” the two balls, add a third ball, starting it with person 5.

Group Juggling Think and Discuss How were cooperation and teamwork important in this activity? How are those same skills important for living in a family? How is group juggling easier than juggling alone? How is it more difficult? Relate this to living in a family. Suppose that, while juggling three balls, the group suddenly decided to reverse the direction of one ball. What do you think would happen? How is this similar to what happens when unexpected problems arise in families?

Getting Help for the Family Even when a family is healthy, there may be times when the family is faced with a problem that seems overwhelming. In this situation, asking for help is a sign of strength rather than a sign of weakness. Many families depend on relatives or trusted friends. Some families may turn to members of the clergy or mental health professionals. A family may use a crisis hotline or contact a crisis center. Some sources of help for families are family agencies, family therapists, and support groups.

Family Agencies Some agencies offer counseling for families. Others may offer parenting classes. Mental-health agencies help meet the needs of people with mental disorders. Child-welfare agencies offer services for the protection of children.

Family Therapy Therapists work with family members to find better ways to solve problems. Family therapists encourage all family members to take part in the process.

Support Groups A support group is a network of people who help each other cope with a particular problem. Group members learn from one another rather than from a group leader.

Vocabulary empathy The ability to understand another person’s thoughts or feelings. sibling A brother or sister. support group A network of people who help each other cope with a particular problem.

QuickTake Quiz Click to start quiz.

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End of Section 5.3 Click on this slide to end this presentation.