Raising Children Network: the Australian parenting website
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About family management

By Raising Children Network
 
 

Shopping, cooking, paying bills, keeping track of where everybody is and where they need to be. Ferrying children to, from and between home, school and friends. It's all part of the hectic behind-the-scenes activity that keeps a family and a home going.

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If you are going through separation or divorce, your children will adapt more easily if you and your ex can keep the same routines in your separate homes.

 

The way you work as a family and keep things going at home is called family management. With a few basics in place, family management can create more time for you as a family.

Family management can:

  • bring family members closer together
  • make it easier for adults and children to talk
  • make everyone more organised and less stressed
  • make the most of precious time and finances
  • help adults deal with the way children behave
  • provide a way of passing on your family values
  • help children develop important social skills for life
  • help your family find more time to have fun together.

Family management is about routines, rituals, and budget and money management.

Routines

Routines include things that need to be done at certain times (such as mealtimes and bedtimes). They provide security and stability for both adults and children, and can help your family organise things in a way that means you can all spend more time together and more time doing the things that are important to you.

Rituals

Rituals help your family know what’s special about your family. They can be simple things, like reading a bedtime story, or having chocolate cake on Sunday night. Rituals make family members feel important, and give everyone a sense of history and of belonging.

Budgeting and managing your money

Taking control of your family's finances contributes to a smooth-running, happy environment at home. It also teaches children skills for when they are adults. Read our tips on managing your money and on finances and debt.

 
  • Last reviewed16-05-2006
  • References

    Fiese, B.H., Tomcho, T.J., Douglas, M., Josephs, K., Poltrock, S., & Baker, T. (2002). A review of 50 years of research on naturally occurring family routines and rituals: Cause for celebration? Journal of Family Psychology, 16(4), 381-390.

    Howe, G.W. (2002). Integrating routines and rituals with other family research paradigms: Comment on the special section. Journal of Family Psychology, 16(4), 437 – 440.

    Schuck, L. A., Bucy, J. E. (1997). Family rituals: Implications for early intervention. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, 17(4), 477-494.