In this episode of "Good Friends; Strong Families," we delve into the often overlooked yet crucial aspect of communication: listening. Uncover the true power of becoming an active listener to foster deeper connections and understanding within your family. We explore practical strategies to shift from merely hearing words to genuinely understanding and empathizing with your loved ones, ensuring they feel honestly heard and valued. By the end of this episode, you'll be equipped with the tools needed to enhance your listening skills, leading to a more resilient and connected family dynamic. Join us as we discuss the importance of empathetic listening and how it can transform everyday interactions into meaningful, relationship-strengthening experiences.

LUV Listening:
LISTEN politely with a genuine desire to understand other people’s ideas and feelings when they talk to you. UNDERSTAND: Show understanding by nodding your head, asking polite questions, or repeating the main points to ensure you understand. VALIDATE the other person’s point of view, even if you disagree, by saying, “I see why you feel that way . . .”

In this episode of "Good Friends; Strong Families," dive into emotional bank accounts, a representation of the trust and safety built within family relationships through actions and words. Learn how to enrich your family life by making more deposits than withdrawals, ensuring your children and partner feel valued, loved, and genuinely appreciated. Discover actionable strategies to create an environment of resilience and connection, where every interaction becomes an opportunity to reinforce feelings of love, acceptance, and appreciation. Join us as we explore the importance of emotional deposits through specific, sincere compliments and the skillful avoidance of overly critical comments, laying the foundation for a lifetime of strong, healthy family bonds.

Look for and Compliment the Good - https://strengtheningfamilieslessons.org/

Daily Compliment Tracking:

• Every day look for things you can complement in each person. Put a mark each time you give a reinforcing compliment.

Steps to a Reinforcing Compliment: To change behavior or encourage better behavior regularly, you should incorporate these five steps:

1. Give it immediately: Don’t delay; provide the compliment right after the positive action occurs.
2. Be excited and sincere: Your enthusiasm shows its importance, and sincerity ensures the message is received as genuine.
3. Say exactly what the person did well: Be specific about what action or behavior you're praising.
4. Tell how it helps the person: Connect the action to its positive impact, making it meaningful.
5. Add a gentle touch: If appropriate, a small physical gesture like a pat on the back can reinforce your words.

STRENGTHENING FAMILIES PROGRAM

40 Phrases That Praise

Putting deposits in your kid’s “emotional bank account”:

REINFORCING COMPLIMENTS

1. I’m proud of you for…
2. Thanks for trying so hard on…
3. I’m pleased the way you…
4. How thoughtful of you to…
5. You’ve made real progress on…
6. You did a good job on…
7. Keep up the good work on…
8. You are a natural at…
9. I like it when you…
10. That was a really good try at…
11. That’s a great improvement on…
12. I’m pleased you…
13. I appreciate you being (so thoughtful, honest, persistent, kind, etc.)
14. You showed a lot of creativity at…
15. I’m impressed with the way you…
16. Thanks for being so (responsible, organized, etc.)

EXPRESSING LOVE

17. I love you.

1. We make a great team.
2. I have fun with you.
3. I’m glad you’re my son/daughter, husband/wife.
4. I enjoy spending time with you.
5. I’m glad you called.
6. If you’re concerned/sad/hurting, I’m here to listen; help me understand.
7. You mean a lot to me.
8. You’re right.

POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS

26. Well done!

1. I like to hear your ideas.
2. Excellent work!
3. What a great job!
4. That’s a good point. Thanks for sharing.
5. I’m sure you can do it; you’ve done hard things before. (Or: I knew you could do it.)
6. Thanks for doing what I asked.
7. I couldn’t have done it without you.
8. Wow! Cool! Way to go!
9. That’s great! Give me five!
10. I like the way you’re

In this Good Friends: Strong Families episode, Angela and Anna delve into establishing family rules and expectations. Far from laying down a list of dos and don'ts, this discussion opens up a meaningful dialogue on creating rules that align with your family's values and encourage participation and understanding from every family member. Learn how to craft respected and accepted guidelines, fostering a home environment where everyone feels valued and heard.
Discover the importance of implementing rules beyond the surface to teach responsibility, respect, and the skills necessary for navigating the wider world. Learn how rules can be more than just household commands—they can be the cornerstone of teaching your kids about the world, preparing them for adulthood with the right balance of discipline and freedom.
This episode is packed with practical advice on involving children in the rule-making process, ensuring they understand the ‘why’ behind each guideline, and setting up a system that works for your unique family dynamic. Whether you're looking to refresh your family's rules or starting from scratch, tune in for strategies to make your family rules effective, respected, and woven into the fabric of daily life, creating a respectful and loving home. Here are Dr Amen's 8 family rules from the Strengthening Families Program:
1) Be honest.
2) Treat each other with respect.
3) Respect each other’s property.
4) Put away things you take out.
5) Look for ways to be kind and helpful.
6) Ask permission before you go.
7) Do what Mom or Dad asks the first time.
8) Don’t argue with your parents.