Life is fast-paced, and if we aren’t careful we can miss some of the sweetest gifts life has to offer. This is especially true in parenting.
As parents we can get so consumed with work, chores and the next thing in our routine that we forget to pause and connect as a family. And the speed of our world makes it ridiculously hard to slow down as well.
So what’s a parent to do? How do we slow down and connect in meaningful ways with our family? I would like to suggest nine of an infinite number of options.
Read
Nothing fancy or complicated here. Just grab a book, snuggle up and enjoy. And reading together can be done no matter if your children are babies or teenagers. If you are low on options to read, your local library is a great resource.
Food
Family mealtime is a great time to bond through preparation of a meal and also the enjoyment of it as well. According to the Family Dinner Project, enjoying a meal together as a family does more than strengthen family bonds.
Family mealtime contributes to higher self esteem and lower risk of depression and eating disorders. Another benefit – family meals can help expand vocabulary (more so than reading).
Explore
Go for a walk around your neighborhood or a park. Find some local hiking trails in your area. Surprise your kids with a trip to a theme park for the day. Visit a zoo or museum. You get the idea … leave your home and enjoy life together.
Play
Young children learn best through play, and it can also been a meaningful avenue of connection. But play is not just for little kiddos; it is great for big kids and their parents, too!
Grab some toys you already have at home (cars, building blocks, Legos, PlayDoh, etc) and play. Paint or create something together. Or maybe go to a park and swing or slide with your child.
Laugh
Don’t be afraid to show your silly side, too. Jump on the bed together. Tell jokes. Have a food fight. Jump in puddles and get all muddy. Kids love to see that their parents have a sense of humor and a silly side. Tell jokes.
Family Night
Dedicate a night each week or a few times a month for Family Night. Fix your family’s favorite meal, watch a movie or play games. Making this part of your family’s routine gives your children something to look forward to on a consistent basis.
For more ideas on ways to connect as a family check out 10 Ways to Connect As A Family at Holistic Homemaking.
In what ways do you like to spend quality time and connect with your family?
Share your ideas with us in the comments section below.
We have a 13 & 15 yr. old soon to be 14 & 16. I did the things mentioned above and people always comment on how close and loving my girls even though they are polar opposite in character. But you know they still enjoy those things. We snuggle on the bed and read or watch funny animal video on line or take family walks and drives and my husband and I still hold them on our laps from time to time and we play family games. Sometimes unplugging is exactly what they need, even if they think they don’t.
Such great ideas here. I completely agree with Kathy’s comment above – it is hard to get those older kids to “unplug” and enjoy downtime with the family, but SO worth it!