the family emotional climate is a recipe in which all members add an ingredient, depending on age and ability.
Last update: 23 September, 2020
Creating and maintaining a good family emotional climate is often a difficult task, especially if strong personalities live together under the same roof or when the family situation is complicated. However, it is always worth it: the family can be a source of support and unconditional affection.
It is not uncommon for a family problem to lead to therapy. Stefano Benni wrote “perfect communication exists. And it's a quarrel ”. Spending a lot of time with other people certainly increases the likelihood of clashes, hostility at times.
On the other hand, that of the family emotional climate is a shared responsibility. Each component can decide, based on her possibilities, whether to create an environment in which harmony or rather conflict prevails.
Of course, the greatest effort rests with the parents. They are ultimately responsible for what happens in the home. The children, on the other hand, will be assigned a part gradually increasing over the years.
In other words, the family emotional climate is a recipe in which all members add an ingredient, depending on age and ability.
According to the results of a research published in the journal Psychology Science of Therapy, it is essential to carry out activities that encourage family coexistence and healthy emotional and cognitive development.
Having good relationships with siblings and parents strengthens emotional bonds and improves everyone's self-esteem.
Families have changed
Parenting is not an easy task; the dangers multiply with the passing of the years. The job of the parent goes beyond satisfying the primary need for food and sustenance of the children.
Raising a child also includes important aspects such as educating to a family atmosphere founded on affection, support and respect. This will facilitate the development of secure attachment relationships, the creation of rules and discipline, healthy lifestyle habits, the transmission of values ​​and the ability to make important decisions.
As if this were not enough, these tasks must be carried out in an increasingly diverse family context. Alongside traditional families, headed by a married couple, other familiar patterns are increasingly common. Examples are families with single, single, or extended parents.
The roles assigned to parents have changed dramatically over the past few decades. Most mothers no longer dedicate themselves to the sole care of children and the home, and have to balance family management with work.
On the other hand, the father is required to play an active role in the education and care of the children. He is no longer the figure who "brings the money home".
All this, together with other factors, has contributed to creating new models, new challenges and directly affects the family's emotional climate.
How to improve the family emotional climate?
The answer is not simple. Because? First of all because it is generic. The first thing to do is to evaluate the problems within the family.
Once we have identified the weaknesses and its characteristics, we can establish a plan to improve it. However, some strategies are applicable to most situations.
Encourage good habits between members
Is critical. Families in which there is a good emotional climate are those whose members treat each other with respect and education.
Respect and education recall a series of behaviors. For example, the rejection of aggressive or hurtful language. Insults and offensive words should be banned, punishing and not enforcing their use.
It is important to be respectful. The habit of greeting each other when entering and leaving the house costs nothing, but it makes a big difference. Gestures and affectionate words must never be lacking.
Each family member has a specific role
This means that the parent must behave as a parent, the child as a child. Sounds logical, doesn't it? Many parents, on the other hand, forget their role. A father and a mother are a guide whose mission is to educate. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the well-being and growth of children.
To achieve this, some parents behave in a particularly authoritarian way. In this way, however, there is a risk of significantly restricting the children's margin of autonomy and maneuver. On the other hand, those who are unable to establish clear and clear boundaries will end up with disoriented and impulsive children.
In this case it is better to be democratic parents, determined to impose limits but willing to listen.
And the children? They must learn to respect adults, take responsibility as they grow up, and allow themselves to make mistakes. A child who does not follow parental guidelines will not be "guided" and will grow up with a feeling of strong insecurity due to a lack of reference points. At the other extreme, a child who is too independent is unlikely to voluntarily take the risks necessary for his own growth.
The importance of family activities
Even the family can and should be an environment in which to have fun. All members must be able to carry out rewarding activities together.
Assuming that children must cultivate personal friendships - and parents too - it is essential to share free time in which duties or frictions can be put aside.
Free time with the family can be occupied by excursions, cultural visits, lunches outside the home, a film, sport, etc. It is first of all important that the time spent with the family is of quality and that everyone has fun equally.
We could mention many other factors that contribute to improving the family emotional climate, it is in fact a complex topic.
If the climate in your home is becoming intolerable, it may be best to seek help from a psychologist. It will help you and your family members overcome what is perhaps just a difficult time.
