5 Ideas to Make Family Time Meaningful

5 Ideas to Make Family Time Meaningful

With the holidays just around the corner and the hustle and bustle of everyday life, fitting in some family time can prove challenging. Whether you’re a working parent or a stay-at-home mom with a to-do list a mile long, squeezing in some quality time with those nearest and dearest to us is important. The season of giving thanks, is a great excuse to bring the fam together for a little bonding. Try these tips to keep family at the forefront this upcoming season and throughout the year.

1. Power Down

Take a little break from the electronics this month.  Choose a day or an evening to go electronics free for an hour or more and make it a weekly tradition for your crew. Use this time to do something fun as a family…play a board game, go for a walk, who knows….you may end up having some real conversations with each other!

2. Live in the Moment

During the month of November, stop trying to capture every moment and just enjoy them.  You can update your FB Status another time. (Christmas will be here soon enough!)  Make a conscious effort to be present and live in the moment.  You may be surprised how your mental images actually become more meaningful than the digital ones.

3. Make Chores “Fun”

“Clean up, clean up, everybody do their share…” Making chore time a fun family event will probably result in more cooperation. I’m not talking about a full day of cleaning, but making a family meal together or even doing the dishes as a family will make the tasks more enjoyable.  Chores may take a bit longer, but the memories made while completing them will last a lifetime.

4. Read Together

It can be difficult to set aside time to just “hang out”. Finding time to unwind with your kiddos may mean adding a few minutes into your daily schedule.  Reading with our kids before bedtime has been part of our nightly routine since my son was born.  Of course, knowledge is power, and books are full of it. But reading is more than just a practical tool. Through books we can enrich our kids’ minds; strengthen our relationships with them and enjoy some precious leisure moments.

5. Carve out Family Time

As kids get older and become more and more involved in outside activities, it becomes harder and harder to find time to spend as a family.  Make family time a priority and schedule it just like any other activity.  Put it on the calendar and make sure everybody understands that it is important for everyone to participate (whatever activity is planned) and it may mean saying “no” to another opportunity.

 

 

How do you give thanks to family with your time?  Share with us in the Comments below.