5 Qualities of Strong Families: Dr. Brad's Tips and TV Interview

Click on the video player to the left to watch Dr. Brad's TV interview. Click on the "Cool Kids Parenting Tips" icon above to open a Word document of these tips in English and Spanish to send to parents or link to this web page in e-mails and school web sites.

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5 Qualities of Strong Families, by Dr. Brad Schwall

Research shows that strong families share similar qualities.

Appreciation and Affection

Strong families show affection and do caring things for each other. Hugs, affirmations, kisses, and showing appreciation for thoughtful actions help families bond.

Commitment

Making family a priority makes families strong. Being present for activities and protecting family time gives families opportunities to strengthen their relationships.

Positive Communication

Healthy families talk about their feelings and solve problems together. Family members in successful families listen to each other.

Enjoyable Time Together

Research into children’s perspectives on what makes families strong indicates that they believe happy families do things together and enjoy being with each other.

Spiritual Well-being

Studies show that spirituality is important to strong families. Spirituality helps give families meaning and helps strong families focus on what really matters to them in life.

Healthy Coping Skills

When crises occur, strong families rely on successful strategies for handling stress. Strong families handle daily stress and more serious life-crises effectively.

Research Citations

Cool Kids is a social and emotional learning curriculum that teaches students in Kindergarten through 8th grade social and emotional skills for success in relationships, academics, and life.