Spending quality time with your kids is one of life’s greatest joys. You’ll make memories that will last a lifetime and will spend hours belly-laughing together.
Family bonding time can help your kids build important emotional and social skills, too. Kids are like sponges and will pick up on the way you speak to your partner and play with their siblings.
Set aside time to bond and prepare some fun activities that will help your kids engage with you and your partner. This will help you build a healthier, closer relationship that will last the test of time.
Staycations
Vacations are a highlight for young children and teenagers alike. Everyone loves going on holiday and getting away from the house for a few weeks. However, you may find that overseas trips to Paris or Cancún are a little out of the budget at the moment.
Instead of blowing the budget on an international holiday, plan a staycation on a budget with your family. Your kids will enjoy getting involved with the planning process and will love trying out new activities. If you’re running low on ideas to spice your staycation up, consider adding activities like:
- Backyard Campout: The closest destination is your own backyard! Your kids will love sleeping out under the stars and will get a real buzz out of setting up a tent with you.
- Local Attractions: Taking a staycation can help you explore your own town or city. Consider renting a short-term homestay somewhere nice and plan a weekend of sightseeing in your own town.
- Picnics: Consider taking a road trip to a destination of great natural beauty. Give your kids a chance to pick their own meals and back plenty of refreshing snacks to keep their energy levels high.
If you have older kids, consider road-tripping to a campground a few hours from your home. Teens can tolerate the longer car journeys and may get more from the time spent outdoors. Spending time in nature is good for children, too, and will protect them against conditions like heart disease later in life. If they’re the adventurous type, consider planning a few fun activities like:
- Nature scavenger hunts
- Guided kayaking
- Take a dip in a hot spring
- Outdoor art
Gently encourage your older children to participate and ask them if there are any activities they’d rather do. Treat them with smores and soda in the evening and let them sleep in a little the next morning. This will create a positive association between the outdoors and spending quality time together.
Weekend Activities
You don’t need to set aside a fortnight to bond with your family. Sometimes, a weekend filled with fun activities is exactly what you need to grow closer as a family. You can build a strong, positive relationship with your children by allowing them to choose what you’ll do together. This helps promote a safe, loving environment and shows that you trust them.
If you need a little inspiration, consider planning weekend activities like:
- Visit a make-your-own pottery shop
- Pull together your craft supplies and make a blanket together
- Take them to the bookshop and let them pick out a few new books to read
- Play some sports together (mini-golf, frisbee, darts and soccer are great options!)
These activities will engage your child’s imagination and help them burn off some energy. Consider introducing them to new sports like golf or simply engaging them with their favorite pastimes.
There’s nothing wrong with playing a few hours of video games together and doing so shows that you care about their preferences. Sometimes, the best activity is simply relaxing in each other’s company while watching TV or reading books.
Bonding Time
Sometimes, bonding time is about more than crafting together or playing sports. Your kid needs to know that you’re there for them on an emotional level, and will benefit greatly from a few honest conversations from time to time.
You can start building a healthier relationship with your family by setting aside time to learn about your children’s interests. This will give you plenty to talk about and can help you understand them on a deeper level. Show interest and affection when your kid is expressing themselves and avoid the inclination to judge them.
If you really struggle to connect with your child, consider family counseling. Family counseling shouldn’t be seen as a last resort and can put you back on the right path. Counseling is particularly helpful if you struggle to show emotional support for your child and want to learn new skills to help support them.
Rituals
Rituals can help keep your house in order and help you spend quality time together. It sounds odd, but some of your deepest conversations with your child might occur when you’re putting away dishes or folding laundry together.
You don’t have to always eat dinner together if that doesn’t suit your family, but you should have a shortlist of non-negotiable rituals. Start simple, with family rituals like a weekly game night or cooking together. These rituals shouldn’t necessarily be chores but should help your child feel like part of the family.
When completing your family rituals, be prepared to put the activity to the side to focus fully on your child. Oftentimes, children come forward with their fears, aspirations, or goals when they are working on a different task. Keep your focus on them throughout and put aside the paints or board game if you feel you’d benefit from an honest conversation.
Conclusion
Family bonding time can strengthen your relationship with your child and help them develop important emotional and social skills. However, you may find that your kid pushes back on family time. Give them space and focus on building a positive association between family time and fun. You can even put the ball in their court by giving them the freedom to choose weekend activities or staycation destinations. Just remember to put aside time for daily rituals, too, as these will give your child a chance to reach out to you if they ever need to talk.
