Creating a family mission statement is one of the most powerful ways to unite your family around shared values and goals.

This collaborative process helps families define their core purpose and chart their course for the future. Just as businesses use mission statements to guide decisions and growth, your family’s mission statement becomes your blueprint for meaningful family life.

Why Your Family Needs a Mission Statement

A well-crafted mission statement is your family’s compass, guiding daily decisions and long-term planning. Like setting meaningful family intentions, it creates a framework for:

• Making decisions that align with your values
• Building stronger family bonds
• Teaching children about purpose and identity
• Creating lasting family traditions
• Fostering unity and understanding

Creating Your Family’s Mission Statement: A Process for Every Age

Step 1: Family Values Discovery

Begin by exploring what matters most to your family. Consider how your family expresses love and appreciation and what traditions, like family giving, define your identity.

Age-Specific Activities:

• Young Children (3-6): Draw pictures of “What makes our family special”
• School Age (7-12): Create a family values collage
• Teens: Write personal reflections on family importance
• Adults: Share stories of meaningful family moments

Step 2: Mission Statement Workshop

For Families with Young Children:

• Use simple questions:
  • What makes us happy as a family?
  • How do we help each other?
  • What do we love doing together?

For Families with Older Children:

• Explore deeper questions:
  • What do we want to be known for?
  • How do we want to treat each other?
  • What impact do we want to have?

For Families with Teens:

• Address complex themes:
  • Individual roles within family unity
  • Balance of independence and family identity
  • Long-term family legacy

Step 3: Crafting Your Statement

Your family’s mission statement should be:

• Clear and concise
• Meaningful to all members
• Easy to remember
• Actionable in daily life

Download Our Family Mission Statement Toolkit

Examples of Family Mission Statements

For Young Families:

“The Smith Family: We love, learn, and laugh together. We help each other grow and show kindness to everyone we meet.”

For Families with Teens:

“We are the Johnson Family. We support each other’s dreams, speak with honesty, act with integrity, and make time for both individual growth and family connection.”

Making Your Mission Statement Live

Display Options:

• Create artistic displays
• Make it your phone backdrop
• Post it on the refrigerator
• Include it in family journals

Regular Check-ins:

• Monthly family meetings
• Quarterly reviews
• Annual updates

Tools and Resources

Downloadable Resources:

• Family Mission Statement Template
• Family Mission Statement Worksheet
• Values Discovery Cards
• Value Discovery Cards Guide
• Family Meeting Guide

External Resources:

• The Family Dinner Project
• Center for Parenting Education

Moving Forward with Your Mission Statement

Remember that your family’s mission statement is a living document. As your family grows and evolves, so too can your mission statement. The key is creating something meaningful that reflects your family’s unique identity and aspirations.

Download our complete Family Mission Statement Toolkit to get started today.