As a CEO of Welcome Max and father of two, Christophe Cotin Valois knows kids aren't always easy to manage. Just like corporate workshops can flop without proper context, herding children can feel like an anarchic meeting. Drawing from years of professional facilitation experience, Christophe shares practical design thinking tips applied during family vacations—and adaptable for confinement.
For years, I've refined a simple exercise to involve kids in planning activities and chores. Our first attempt failed: we created a schedule of household tasks and leisure without their input, leading to disengagement.
Year two, we applied human-centered design lessons (#TestAndLearn). Focusing on chores, we gamified it with participatory questioning: "What is a vacation? Are holidays just for kids, or for everyone? What makes them tough sometimes? How can we make it fun for all? Why don't parents always feel relaxed? What can we do?"
Kids defined success themselves, owning their contributions.
We prototyped a task wheel of fortune with fun bonuses (like kissing grandpa). Mornings started with dice rolls to spin it—tasks assigned playfully. No more envy, disengagement, or routine. Kids beamed with pride, boosting family harmony.
Confinement means balancing work and kids. Rearrange days creatively with these 5 proven tips for a 1-hour workshop (grab large paper, markers, colored Post-its):
1. Spark Interest
Pre-workshop, ask kids individually about frustrations and expectations. Gather the family with a unifying intro, weaving in their inputs to build buy-in.
2. Foster Positive Mindset
Reframe gripes as "It would be fairer if…" Emphasize individuality, imperfection, and fun chore moments. Reward ideas with treats to channel energy positively.
3. Pinpoint the Common Enemy
Ask: "What sparks conflict? What if we don't solve it?" List issues like snack times, screen limits, dishwasher duty. Highlight parental loads: "What do parents do daily? Isn't that unfair?"
4. Co-Create Solutions
Prompt: "What can we do for fairness?" Cute, practical ideas emerge—facilitate gently, then randomize assignments to avoid debates.
5. Build Playful, Adaptable Tools
Start with Post-its and colored tape for visuals (pictograms for non-readers). Use markers, cardboard, printables. Stay #agile: review weekly, adjust flexibly.
Co-design empowers ownership in a judgment-free zone. Improvise, vent, iterate. Families thrive when everyone contributes purposefully.
Source: Welcome Max
