Families are busy. Between work, school, and activities, it’s easy for families to feel disconnected, even while living under the same roof. But strong families are built on small, everyday connections. If you’re looking for a simple way to make sure everyone feels seen and heard, try adding family check-ins!

Communication and connection is important for a family. There are many different ways to implement a family check-in and it’s important to decide what works best for your household. Here are some simple ideas to try:

• Rose, bud, thorn game: best part of your day, hardest part of your day, something you’re looking forward to.
• 1 word feeling check: share how you are feeling in 1 word.
• Best & worst: share the best part of your day and the worst part of your day.
• High, low, ha: best part, worst part, something that made you laugh

When you choose to implement check-ins is up to you. You can do this at the dinner table, driving in the car, or even at bedtime. If you want to do a more structured check-in, you could try a family meeting. To see the most success with check-ins, remember to keep them low-pressure, be honest with one another, and celebrate the good stuff! Family check-ins might feel small, but over time, they can make a big difference. It’s all about creating space for connection — a few intentional minutes to pause, listen, and remind each other: “You matter here.”

Written By: Erin Ruggiero, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences

Reviewed By: Holly Bandy, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences