Family Agreements
Family agreements refer to family communication tools used to facilitate healthy communication between parents and teenagers. A family agreement should determine rules, like curfew and acceptable Internet use, as well as an agreed upon method for communicating.
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Function
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Rules and the communication process dictated by a family agreement should be put into writing. The family agreement should also include consequences for breaking the rules. By including consequences in the family agreement, potential disagreements over punishments can be eliminated.
Benefits
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By setting a standard for family communication, family agreements enable teenagers to have a healthy dialogue with parents. According to the California Family Health Council, teenagers will be less likely to leave a room in anger because they will feel respected and heard.
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Considerations
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To avoid personal attacks in family communication, Tandem Journey, a resource for dealing with teenagers and adolescents, recommends using "I" statements when settling a dispute. For example, a teenager who feels his curfew is too early should say, "I feel like my curfew could be pushed back an hour," rather than "You are preventing me from having a good social life."
Revaluation
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Family agreements should be revisited regularly as teenagers grow older, according to Tandem Journal. For instance, family agreements may need restructuring when a teenager gets her first job.
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