As a licensed psychologist who works with whole family systems, Dr. Tom Gambino has found that families often struggle to establish rules and boundaries at home. Parents report that loving and supporting a child while also holding them accountable can be a difficult balance to strike. But by borrowing from the world of sport psychology, families can take a page from a championship playbook. Winning teams consistently describe how a strong team culture carries them through adversity, keeps them united, and holds every member accountable — regardless of their role.

One strategy for building that same warm, "winning" culture at home is the weekly family meeting. During these meetings, every family member shares their thoughts on what the rules, expectations, and norms at home should look like. Children are encouraged to offer their own ideas, while parents share what matters most to them. Together, the family agrees on 5 to 7 rules, which are written on poster board, signed by every member, and displayed in multiple places around the house. From that point on, everyone is responsible for holding each other accountable, and any concerns are saved for the next weekly meeting. Over time, parents can introduce incentives to reinforce the rules, and the list itself can only be changed with the full agreement of the entire family. This work can also be completed in a family therapy session with the help of the licensed professionals at Navesink Psychological Services.