Family Meeting Agenda and Actions Sheet

Who this is for

A regular family meeting on one page. Anyone can raise an item, the sheet records what was decided, who is doing what and by when, and there is room for the dates coming up and a word of appreciation for each other.

Families who hold a weekly or monthly sit-down with the children, and parents trying one for the first time to share out jobs and settle recurring arguments.

What this helps you track

• Who came and who chaired this time
• Items raised by each person and what was decided
• Actions agreed, who is doing them and by when
• Dates coming up that everyone needs to know about
• Appreciations, so the meeting is not only about problems

How to use it

1. Put the sheet somewhere everyone can add an agenda item during the week before the meeting.
2. At the meeting, fill in the date, who is there and who is chairing, and look back at last meeting's actions first.
3. Take each agenda item in turn, note the discussion briefly and write the decision.
4. Share out the jobs in the actions table with a name and a date, and tick them off at the next meeting.
5. Finish with dates coming up and appreciations, and set the next meeting date; the browser version saves in your own browser.

Formats

• Printable PDF (A4 and US Letter)
• Fillable PDF with form fields
• Fill in online, saved in your browser

The printable is laid out inside a box that fits both A4 and US Letter, so the two files are identical and neither one is scaled. The fillable PDF has real form fields. The online version keeps what you enter in your own browser and builds the completed PDF on your device.

How to print

Download the A4 or US Letter file to match the paper in your printer, open it in a PDF reader and print at 100% — not "fit to page", which shrinks the writing space. Both files leave a 14 mm margin, which clears the unprintable edge on home printers. To print the online version with your entries in it, use the Print this sheet button, which prints only the sheet and none of the page around it. More on printing.

Questions

How long should a family meeting take?

As long as suits your family and the children's ages. Some families keep it very short so younger children stay involved; the sheet works the same for a quick check-in or a longer talk.

Should children chair the meeting?

Many families take turns, children included. The chair field records whose turn it was, which makes it easy to rotate fairly.

What if we cannot agree on an item?

Write that no decision was reached and carry it to the next meeting, or add an action for someone to find out more. The sheet records the outcome, whatever it is.

Why start with last meeting's actions?

Because it shows the meeting leads to things getting done. If actions are never checked, people soon stop taking them on.