Goals
Establish goals for your family, your family’s involvement in church, and for yourself in your career (in light of the above).

Family Goals
To be a family where we all...

Church Goals
Be involved in ministries that...

Career Goals
Be in a position that allows me to...

Events

Weekly Timeslots
Establish timeslots for important commitments (family time, outreach, church activities, sports, community, growth, etc.) so that the week doesn’t become too hectic or to crowded for important things. Establish a Sabbath day (even if it can’t be Sunday).

Day of the Week Focus Event

Sunday -

Monday -

Tuesday -

Wednesday -

Thursday -

Friday -

Saturday -

Family Times
Identify which holidays, traditions, annual events you, as a family, are going to observe (just because it is on the calendar, doesn’t mean that you have to celebrate it. Also determine to what extent your family will celebrate it (presents, party, cards, etc.)

Kids Times
Identify events/activities that are important that you children get to participate in (Church Camp, Time alone with Grandma/Grandpa, Sports, Music, etc.)

Marriage Times
Identify events/activities that you are going to make special for you and your wife to nurture and grow your marriage (don’t forget the obvious Anniversary and Valentines Day events.

Individual Times
Identify events/activities that you are going to commit to for each person in your family to grow mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Devotions
Establish a time table (to shoot for) that encourages each child in their spiritual growth as they grow older.

For example:

Chores
Establish household chores that will help prepare each child to be prepared to be on their own when they graduate from high school. Schools don’t teach "Home Economics" any more. Boys need to have the same life-skills as Girls (and vice-versa).

For example:

Activities
Children can get overwhelmed by the opportunities that are available these days. It is our responsibility to manage those opportunities so as not to overwhelm our children or our families. Establish guidelines, based on the child’s age, as to the type and number of activities that they can be involved in. If they want to add another one, then they need to decide which one they are going to drop. As they grow older, they should be able to handle more activities (or at least more involved activities).

For example:

Allowance
Establish a plan for an allowance that grows with their ability to understand finances. Also help them develop financial management skills (see footnotes in the example below). As children grow older, they should take on more responsibility for their own purchases. Their own food and clothing are natural things for them to be responsible. You might even consider Gas and Car Insurance in your plan. Whatever the amount, children will always find someone who get more. Although the example only puts $1,487 in college (not counting interest) and no one will go to college for that amount, it does give them at an early age a sense that college is a possibility for their future, and that they can play a role in reaching that goal. Establish a rule on monetary gifts (Christmas, Birthday, etc.). Does it get tithed? Does any of it go to College?

For example:

* = Opens personal bank account
** = Starts keeping personal bank account on the computer
*** = Runs Family finances for 1 year

Grades
Decide with your wife early on whether your children should get paid for good grades. It should be consistent you’re your plan for allowance. This is a good time to help them prepare for College be requiring some of the money to go into their College Fund. Also, don’t forget to help them learn to tithe ALL their income (even for grades).