New Family Activities

Spending quality time with your family is so important. Most households require that both parents work full time outside of the home, making regular family time hard to come by. You could consider planning things like family dinners on Wednesday nights, or making Sunday family day. Here are some fun changes you should do as a family. 

Sports

If your family is naturally competitive, what better way to use that than to play sports with each other? If you are an active family already, this will come naturally. If you are wanting to start regular exercise, this is a fun way to start. 

You should invest in some softball gloves and hit the neighborhood park to play catch. You might want to buy a basketball or soccer ball and give yourself some options. You could even start evening strolls around the block or join a family league of some kind. 

Upgrades

After living in your home for so long, there will be things that you want to change, update, or items that simply need fixing. You probably know that hiring a handyman can become expensive, not to mention you may not want a stranger in your house for every little thing. 

With YouTube at the tip of your finger, it is easy to find directions on how to complete most tasks. These are things you can do as a family, and find a role for everyone to get involved. This will give you the opportunity to work as a family and give your children a sense of accomplishment. 

Messages

If you find yourself too busy to see each other for dinner every night, or you are not home when the kids leave for school, you can find a way to still let them know you care. This may look like a sweet little note in their lunchbox to wish them a good day. 

You might call them midday to leave a voicemail on their phone reminding them that you are thinking about them and love them. Encourage your spouse and children to respond and this can become a regular thing. Messages left on the door or refrigerator are a great idea also.

Stories

Do your children know the story of how you and your spouse met? Do they know where their great-great-grandparents are from? Have you told them where their relatives grew up? Or what your first job was? Sit them down and tell them play by play. 

The older your kids get, the more curious they will become. You can make a night out of it with snacks and blankets. Show them pictures and videos you may have. Ask them questions like what is their favorite memory? Who is their favorite teacher of all time and why?

Trips

If it is in the budget to take a family vacation each year, that is a wonderful way to make memories with your family. You can expose the children to different cultures and ways of life. You should try new foods together and teach them a few words in new languages. 

It is important to note that these types of excursions are not necessary for you and your family to explore together. Start taking monthly trips to new parts of town. Try different family-owned restaurants and challenge each other to order something unique each time. Make it a habit to be present and mindful. 

Contributions

One of the best ways to prevent your own children from growing up spoiled brats is to show them how fortunate they are. This can look like asking them to donate toys and clothes they no longer need and taking them with you to drop them off. 

Another great way to encourage a grateful spirit in them is to volunteer. You could spend time at the local animal shelter and help walk and bathe dogs. Or you could sort and serve food at the downtown soup kitchen and homeless shelter. Talk to each other about the benefits of helping others.