Tips for Raising Kids in Multigenerational Households!

In a country like India, the culture of multigenerational households isn’t a new one. Rather, it is rooted in a conventional method. So here are some tips to raise kids in multigenerational households as this setup can be advantageous in many ways.

If both parents work, or if you are a working woman in India, you can leave your child with grandparents or split chores with your other in-laws. However, this setup can also be a barrier, especially when it comes to disciplining your child.

Before stepping up the ladder, let’s gather a few spilled beans on what exactly is the concept of a multigenerational household!

What are Multigenerational Families At The Base-

Many families are what therapists call a "multi-generational family." This means that you, your spouse, and your child(ren) share a home with your parent(s) or other senior family members. When this happens, every member of the family experiences difficulties in living together in harmony.

It can be more difficult to establish clear and consistent duties and structure in a home with various generations present. Parenting duties and authority can quickly become muddled. These types of issues and relationships are challenging for children, whether your parent disagrees with a parenting decision you make in front of your child or you disagree with your parents.

Thus, children belonging to such family setups often fail to understand their emotional exhibits. However, there are numerous ways to describe a healthy family or healthy family relations. Thus, multigenerational families are not intrinsically good or harmful. In fact, they are the standard in many societies!

Most family therapists assess a family's health by examining how well families communicate and resolve problems, as well as how individual members of the family feel about the family's rules, structure, and responsibilities. It is critical to acknowledge that no family is flawless, nor is there a universally correct method for a family to function. However, multigenerational households can provide a number of difficulties.

Tips to Raise Kids in Joint Family Setups-

While there are multiple opinions to oppose and favor the multigenerational setups. So, let’s leave the debate for discussing those in detail rather let’s see how can we make a safe space for raising kids in a joint family.

• Create A Safe Communicating Space

Raising your kids might be a little public and so is the decision-making for them in a joint family type. However, as parents, it is suggested to allow your children fostered in an open environment. By, saying open we mean a surrounding where they can freely communicate with you. Thus, this is an appreciated way to sustain harmony as a cornerstone.

• Set Boundaries and Roles

Certainly, your children might feel a little abandoned at some point in such a crowded home. Indeed, the reason is the distributed attention, love, and care. So, set their roles and boundaries within the members of the family only so that they also understand that at times balancing that unfilled love from near ones is also fine. Thus, allow them to nurture the bond with their uncle, aunty, cousins, grandparents, and everyone else in the house.

• Teach them Patience

In such heavy family setups it is at times an arduous task for parents to calm their kids. No doubt, comparison, jealousy, insecurity, and such negative emotional gestures prevail in joint family arrangements. Thus, it is the duty of parents to communicate to their offspring to be always patient with the situation. Also, encourage them to be always satisfied with what they have.

To The Bottom Line-

Young families can save money on childcare and housing by living with multiple generations. It's also an excellent option to care for aging parents while keeping costs to a minimum.

Set expectations and respect boundaries to get all of the benefits of intergenerational living. Encourage bonding activities as well. But don't forget about the primary caretakers in the home. They are the most vulnerable to mental stress and exhaustion, which is bad for everyone in the house.