Quality Family Time
Spending time as a family creates the opportunity to build lasting, trusting relationships. The great thing about this is family time doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Kids just want access to you, their parent. Pulling out a board game or gathering everyone around the dinner table gives your family the chance to chat about their day, experiences with friends and maybe even develop the comfort level to ask a pressing question.
As kids get older, they need you to create a welcoming home environment where they realize they can go to you for advice and comfort. Making the commitment to put down everyone’s screen and live in the moment for just 30 minutes to an hour each day can create space to enjoy each other and make new memories together.
The Benefits of Familiy Time
-
Kids whose parents spend time with them tend to do better in school and complete higher levels of education.
-
Children tend to learn how to behave and communicate by watching how their parents interact with others. By spending time with their children, parents can set an example of how to act and talk with others.
-
People tend to parent their children how they themselves were parented. By spending time with their kids, parents help set an example and help ensure the future generation receives loving and nurturing parenting.
-
Studies show that having strong and healthy relationships with family and friends helps develop healthier coping mechanisms for the stressors that come up in life.
Fun Activities To Do As A Family
-
Get outside and explore nature and your local neighborhood to help promote a love of the world around your children.
-
Help your kids develop critical thinking skills while enjoying some friendly competition.
-
Grab a ball and head to your local park to enjoy quality time while you shot hoops or play catch.
-
Get everyone involved in cooking dinner.
A study done by Columbia University showed that kids and teens who had family dinners 3 or more times a week were less likely to be overweight, more likely to eat healthy foods, performed better academically, and had better relationships with their parents.
-
Help instill empathy in your kids by volunteering at a local organization. Give back to your community in a positive manner while spending time together as a family.
Developing A Family Schedule
If you’re having trouble balancing the demands of work, school, homework, chores and activities – you are not alone! We have resource available for you on developing a schedule that works for your family, as well as suggestions on how you can make the most of your time together.