Children want to feel they belong. As a family shows acceptance of the individual child, he or she develops a sense of belonging. Comparing one child to another makes a child feel left out and as though they do not measure up or belong.

Be sure to affirm your children and accept their limitations while praising their abilities, talents, and effort.

Celebrate achievements. This includes mastering a skill, growing, efforts to learn something new, and performing acts of kindness for others. Every day we should find real reasons to praise each or our children. We should also praise children for getting along with other family members. We build bonds and strengthen the sense of belonging when we relate well as a family.

One activity to help families get along is a simple time of praying for one another. it in a circle and ask each person to state one praise and one prayer need. Ask the next person to pray over those two items and then state their praise and need. As we pray for someone else we care about those needs and praises. We rejoice when the prayer is answered and celebrate the blessings in life.

We want peace in our homes as that helps children feel secure. When there is a struggle or fight, let people get calm and the sit and chat about it. Ask what each one wants and why everyone cannot get their way. We need to compromise, take turns. or find solutions to cease the struggle. That means accepting the other person and his or her needs. That means putting others first and knowing we make choices to help our family be stronger. The bottom line may be to ask choice will help our family the most?

When we settle disputes, we are also accepting the needs of the individuals in the family and showing we are all important and belong in the family. When family members have a sense of belonging they smile, laugh, and enjoy one another.

Remind children you are happy they are each in the family. Say, “I love you and I’m happy God placed you in our family.” Those are words that remind them they belong and are valued. This is part of what gives a child identity and helps a child succeed in school and life. The child knows someone cares about how they feel and what they do. It develops confidence that makes children less likely to be bullied. Children will view family members as being on their team and not competitors for their parents’ attention.