With the transition to spring, the days of sunshine, rain, and warmer temps are here. There is no better time of year to get outside and enjoy activities as a family than spring. After a long winter stuck inside, your family finally has the opportunity to get out and do things.
In truth, there is no bad time to work on building and strengthening the bond between parents and children, as well as between siblings. The problem many families face is a lack of options. Without good ideas, most families end up spending time together in the same room, but Dad is watching TV while the kids play on smartphones and tablets, and Mom reads a magazine. The key to family bonding is putting aside the distractions and spending quality time together, no matter what you’re doing.
The following ideas offer family members a chance to work on their connections with one another. For the sake of creativity, these ideas are split into seasonal themes that offer you great options no matter what time of year it is when you stumble across this blog post.
- Weekend Getaways – Sometimes the daily routine of life is hard on the family unit. Everyone gets so caught up in their studies, careers, and extracurricular activities that they forget to spend time with those that matter most. A weekend getaway is a short, simple way to break out of the routine and get a chance to spend some quality time together as a family without the distractions of everyday life. The best part is this idea applies year round! Rent a cabin in the woods during the winter, break out the tents in the summer, or hit the beach in the fall. There’s no wrong way to spend a weekend with family.
- Household Projects – Completing a project together is a great way to improve teamwork within the family. Everyone has a role to play when tackling a household project, and everyone can share in the sense of pride that comes from caring for the home that you all share. This can be as simple as getting some fresh air together while raking leaves in the fall or it can be as complex (with older kids) as completing a minor renovation in one of the rooms in your home. Whatever you do, give everyone a role and reward the family as a group for completing the project.
- Join a Community Event – Every city in America offers residents a chance to come together, get to know one another, and even do some good for their neighbors through community events. Whether you attend a social outing or give your time at a charitable event hosted by your city, joining a community event as a family is a great way to spend time together and help build a family bond that includes a sense of togetherness with those people who inhabit your local area.
- Be Active – As mentioned earlier, life gets hectic. The daily routine can grind down anyone, and sometimes the hours disappear before you realize it. If you find your family in a pinch for time, try to carve out just 20 minutes to be together and do something active. Take a family bike ride, slap on hockey skates and hit the bond, or go for a walk with the family dog. When all else fails, a little bit of time together, doing something active, gives everyone a chance to refocus on the most important people in their lives: each other.
