Each and every family is unique. We all have our own core values and beliefs, we all have our own wisdom and our own individual vision for the way we choose to live our lives.  What heart-felt values and meaningful intentions do you hold for your family?

Putting written word to the values you hold in your heart in the form of a family manifesto can be a really fun way to build connection with the ones you hold dear, bringing conscious awareness to what it is that makes your family life purposeful each and every day.

Including young children in this activity can really encourage inspiration and creativity fostering a sense of togetherness.

We decided as a family to create a family manifesto… ( well I did. And they all just went along with it!) but it was so much fun, and I was so surprised at how much the children really got out of it.

My Husband and I started by talking a little about our own childhoods and what we loved about them. What did we experience that is crucial to celebrate now in the lives of our children? for me, It was a no brainer, It was that ‘unplugged’ childhood we were lucky enough to experience growing up in the 80’s and early 90’s. We were well and truly into our adult lives when smart phones even became a thing.

‘Hash tag’. Grateful.

The unstructured joy of playing outside with no timeline, having adventures and exploring each and everyday. So I am sure you are getting the idea of how ours looks! – a very creative and nature based promise to our hearts. There was also a lot about our childhood’s we wanted to leave behind. Being aware of generational cycles that no longer serve you is also a important factor when doing this activity.

Start by:

Gathering everyone into the room, have a big basket of creative supplies in the middle of the table, and start brainstorming! – simple. You want to write down everything of value to you. What do you want to do more of and what do you currently love doing? What can you improve on? What have you always wanted to do?! – it is all important.

For young children ask them to draw pictures of things they love, for example going to the park! By getting them to draw a picture they feel a part of the process. Explaining their picture to you will help them put into words what they are wanting to express.

What personal values do you hold dear? Kindness, teamwork, connection… write these key words down in little bubbles on your page.

Now get a nice big sheet of clean poster paper and bring it all together in short sentences or key words.

1. “We believe …”
2. “In our family we ….”
3. ” Our promise is …”

Once you have it all written down it is time to live it! Leading by example is the best way to introduce the family manifesto to your children.