7 Tips For Spending More Time With Family

It is ironic that with the world population at its largest ever and the earth becoming a global village, human beings are becoming more isolated than ever. Communication has increased and the Internet connects everyone but there is less and less physical interaction. You see groups of persons together but there is little interaction among them. Each has out an electronic device either conversing with some unseen person, checking in on a social media platform, surfing the web or watching movies, videos or television shows. Sadly, one such group could be your family. Then there are other distractions like work, school and extracurricular activities.

All that was mentioned above eat away at the time family members spend together. Do you spend more time working than interacting with your spouse or children? It is time for a change. Here are 7 tips you can use to spend more quality time with your family.

Mealtime

Sit down with your family for at least one meal per day. If you can make it more than one, that’s even better. The television should be off and there should be no electronic devices at the table. Each person can talk about their activities for the last 24 hours or share plans for the next day. Long-term plans can also be discussed. Share a joke or funny happenings. If there is adequate time, the whole family can prepare the meal too. There is enough work for everyone in the kitchen. Younger children can learn to set the table or fetch and carry things.

One On One Interaction 

Not all family activities are best done as a group. Find time to spend with your spouse. You may want to discuss adult matters, make plans for the future and, of course, have some intimacy to keep the spark going. Spend time with each of your children. There are things they may want to say that is only for a mother’s ears. Each child has their own concerns and these, however trivial they may seem, are of great importance to them.

Play And Celebrate Together

Set aside time at regular intervals for family games night. There should be no electronic games. Play the games that are popular with your family. Put on a family play or concert. It doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, it’s probably more fun if it isn’t. This time can be used for celebrating victories. A parent may have gotten a promotion at work or a child may have done well at school in academics or extracurricular activities. Spend these happy times together and enjoy a bit of laughter as a family.

Family Vacations

Another tip you can use to spend more quality time with your family is vacationing together. It would be nice to go away to the beach or on a cruise. Then there are the mountains for climbing, skiing or camping, even hiking. If the finances cannot stretch to those vacations, then camp in the backyard. Stay at home together having fun times. The important thing is to do it together.

Exercise

Exercise can be more tedious when done alone. Don’t head for the gym. Exercise with your family. Take long walks together which might even provide time for conversation. Play tennis, basketball, football or any other active sport your family may like. Go swimming if there is a beach, pool, lake or any other suitable body of water available. Train for a marathon or half marathon. Organize a neighbourhood olympics and your family can train together to compete with other families. These activities can help your family to get and stay fit while spending time together

Community Service

There are several ways to help others while teaching your children the value of service. Visit the elderly in your area or at homes provided for them. Do little jobs they may not be able to do for themselves. Bring the cheer. Clean up your community or the yards of neighbours who can no longer manage it. Start a recycling drive or a paper route. Find activities that can help others in your area together.

Read Together

This is especially for parents with smaller children. Reading at bedtime is a good bonding activity. Children like to hear stories so it’s a fun way to send them off to sleep. Reading does not have to be restricted only to bedtime. Reading stories to children can help them to develop their imagination and take them to unseen worlds. However, you can also help them with books for school while supervising their homework.

You have been given a start on ways that you can spend more time with your family, now you can also add to this list. In addition, you can have family meetings where you discuss what activities the family wants to participate in and make a new list. After that, you can have fun tackling that list together. For one to one support to help you enhance your family life book a momentum building strategy session today. We are more than happy to help support you.