We
all know the importance of spending quality time with our
families. Even though we have busy schedules - both children and
parents - we should always try to set apart time doing things together,
as a family. One easy way (most of the time) is eating a meal together.
Whether it's breakfast lunch or dinner - try to eat at least one
meal a day together.
There
are many benefits for having 'family time' - and all will be for
the better. You get to know more about eachother, especially as
your children get older you may not have 'small talk' as much. You
keep that secure sense of family strong. (Some people don't think
that's an important aspect for children, but if you research why
young people join gangs you will find the number one reason is for
a sense of belonging and that those in the gang are like 'family'.
Because of this, it's better that you provide that security for
your children so they won't have to search wrong and dangerous areas
to find it for themselves.) Quality time spent with your family
is beneficial in many ways. It's good for our physical bodies as
well as our spiritual lives. Don't neglect eachother as a family.
Below you will find some fun activities you can do with your children
and family. Set aside a certain day(s) or night(s) to do these.
(This
list is provided by Kerry Hayward, a mother and wife from Columbia,
Missouri)
ride
your bicycles together
go
hiking
go
on walks
take
the dog(s) for a walk
watch
a good, family movie during the day
eat
dinner together
play
a board or card game
mow
and rake the yard together
visit
your local library or attend a free activity at the library (some
even offer activities for babies)
indoor
or outdoor picnic
camping
Have
a backyard BBQ
Prepare
a meal as a family, with each member preparing (or helping to prepare)
a dish. For added fun, draw out of a hat who will prepare what dish
(dessert, main dish, vegetable, drink, etc.)
Rent
a movie to watch together and create a theater like atmosphere with
popcorn, special drinks, dim the lights, etc.
Have
a movie marathon-allow each person in the family to choose a movie
Go
to the Drive-In theater in your pajamas
Make
homemade cards or wrapping paper for upcoming holiday or birthday
-or thank you cards--(rubber stamping, leaf rubbings, etc.)
Visit
the science center, zoo, children's museum or IMAX
Make
a book together (pre-writers can dictate their story to their parents
or older sibling and then illustrate their pages)
Go
for a nature walk with a certain focus in mind (i.e., collecting
a variety of leaves)
Go
"wading" in a stream (with plenty of parental supervision
of course) : If going hiking, you could stop at a stream along the
way there, …
Do
a (ten) minute "clean sweep" around the house as a team
where you set a timer and everyone pitches in to clean as much as
they can (straighten rooms, etc.) before the timer goes off. To
avoid chaos, you might want to pre-assign each member of the family
to a specific room in the house
Do
a craft together
Create
a new homemade board game and then play it together.
Go
to a nearby pond and feed the ducks
Visit
a local nursing home-all you need is a smile and a few extra hugs
to share!
Prepare
a meal together to give to a neighbor/friend who recently had a
baby, lost a loved one, …
Read
aloud together
Take
the light rail downtown-even if just to go for an ice cream or do
some window shopping
Spend
a day at the beach-even a local lake beach
Go
to a matinee movie
Turn
your yard into a water park with sprinklers, wading pool, slip and
slide, etc. (maybe even wash the car and water the gardens while
you're at it!
Have
a potluck dinner with some other families
Enjoy
a (free) local festival going on
Bake
cookies (or make no-bake cookies!)
Make
some homemade ice cream
Make
up a skit together
Help
out with a local clean up project in your neighborhood/town (good
activity for Earth Day or any time of the year)
