The Family Living Game*
by Berthold Berg, Ph.D.

This game improves relationships between parents and children. Both generations benefit from the game's learning objectives:

• Improve parent-child communication
• Identify positive and negative ways of connecting emotionally
• Develop mutual respect

Parents' game cards teach reflective listening, helping the child explore alternative solutions to problems, sending clear messages, and punishing and praising the child appropriately. Children's game cards teach assertiveness, acceptance of imperfect parental behavior, and acknowledgement and reciprocity in response to positive parental behavior. Communication game cards are answered jointly by parents and their children and encourage interaction and a chance to practice win/win negotiation.

The Family Living Game is most effective when parents and children play together, with a counselor mediating game play, offering suggestions, and elaborating on important topics.