The Flying Wallendas are a family with generations of high wire-walking daredevils who find it very common to routinely put themselves in harm’s way, attempting to break records and entertain crowds. Though their acts are dangerous, and can and have resulted in death, it doesn’t stop their family from taking risk. People don’t fear what is normal for them. Being a daredevil, a high wire walker, or a performer is part of the Wallenda family culture. It’s just “what Wallendas do.”
Your family has a culture. A way of doing things that those closest to you would label as a trait or characteristic of your family. Did you know you can make a passion for change part of your culture?
Making change part of your family’s culture is a great way to teach resilience, open mindedness, curiosity, and fearlessness. If your children grow up creating, experiencing, and interacting with change, it will be part of what they know and what they expect in their lives. Here are some excellent ways to help create a culture of change within your family:
Encourage change – As a parent, you set the pace for your family. Encourage change as part of everyday life. From picking a holiday theme every season to changing up the wall color in the living room, engage kids in creating change. Showing your kids how fun change can be will help them get curious and be open minded when something might sound too crazy… but ends up being super fun. Embrace their ideas and teach them how to roll with an idea to see how it plays out.
Share age -appropriate coping skills for negative change – As a parent, you may be painfully aware of negative change happening within the family. An illness, death, or unexpected setback might feel better hidden from your children but there is always an age-appropriate way to show kids how to manage negative change. Shielding your kids from pain can stunt them and leave them unprepared as adults when they face their own negative changes. To the extent that is appropriate, consider having a dialogue with your kids when you face negative change and model how to turn a difficult issue into something manageable.
Use a team approach – Where one is weak, others are strong. As a family member experiences a change – good or bad – wrap the family into the experience as a support team. From cheerleading to acting in service, there is always something each family member can do to support another facing an important change. Teaching your children that they are not alone in times of change can help build a sense of resilience and courage when things are morphing from one thing to another. Supporting others builds a teamwork mindset that is a benefit throughout life.
As a parent, you have the opportunity to instill any traits you value into your family. You create the culture your family thrives in and hold the keys to their readiness for adulthood. Help your kids be ready and thrive in change by making change a welcome part of your family’s culture.
