There are many relationships within a family. There are relationships between parents and children along with relationships between siblings. Every relationship can have its own individual characteristics, and personalities can be a factor in these relationships. There may be situations in which a healthy relationship between siblings exists within a dysfunctional family. However, a healthy family generally has healthy relationships between all family members. It is useful, especially for parents, to understand the characteristics of healthy family relationships so they can be fostered and supported.
Time
Family members who have healthy relationships spend time with one another. Indeed, family time is a fundamental building block to strengthening family bonds. Families who share meal times and take the time to share activities are often families who have better opportunities of establishing healthy relationships among family members. Family members can spend time together one-on-one in addition to time spent with all family members present. In contrast, a family in which members avoid one another as much as possible has characteristics of unhealthy family relationships.
Communication
Healthy family relationships exhibit characteristics of good communication. During meal times, there will be conversation instead of silence. Ideas will be exchanged in families with good communication skills. Family members will be able to express their emotions, fears and desires without fear of repercussion. Families will periodically undergo times of conflict, and healthy families exhibit the ability to communicate and work through the conflict.
Trust
Healthy families have family members who trust one another. This can be a critical characteristic for parents. Parents can be overprotective and feel a need to be hovering around their children during most non-school hours. Healthy parental relationships exhibit a trust that the children will make the right decisions, based on family values that the parents have instilled in them.
Fulfilling Needs
Individual family members can go through times of duress and need. During these times, other family members step up to provide support in a healthy family. In an unhealthy family, for example, family members may celebrate the troubles that siblings experience. This is more than sibling rivalry. It is an unhealthy relationship. But in healthy family relationships, siblings step up and help one another.
Family Goals
Healthy families not only talk about family goals, further enhancing the channels of communication, they work together to achieve family goals. This can be the accomplishing of family chores in order to keep the household running smoothly or the completion of family projects such as the remodeling of a game room.
