Family Time Together

If you ask a child, “What make your family happy?” He might answer, “When we get along.” More often than not, however, a child will answer, “When we do things together.” Surprisingly, because this is such a simple way to develop unity and solve the “when we get along” need, we overlook the solution of “doing things together.”

Here are a few questions to help you evaluate what your family could do to improve in the area of Family Time Together:

1) Are we spending family time in the way we would like? 2) If not, how would we like to spend our time together? 3) What things are preventing us from spending time together? 4) Are there things that we can change so that more time can be spent together as a family? 5) Could we calendar family time together? (Ah hah! Family Home Evening Night!) 6) Could we work on consistency?

Now, for a list of things one might consider for making the most out of your family time together:

1) Whenever possible, eat meals together as a family every day. Encourage conversation while eating (see Conversation Jar Idea). Make this a time where everyone is encouraged to slow down. 2) Exercise together as a family. Be it dancing, biking, hiking, walking, great satisfaction and memories will be created. 3) Play games together instead of watching television. 4) Establish family-favorite movies to be watched together as a family. Be sure to talk about “why” the movie is special—what message it gives, and have healthy snacks to go along with the show. 5) Find ways for your family to do community service together. 6) Have family projects and family chores where everyone works together. Have a family garden, family dusting, family pick-up. When the grandchildren come, I hear a song, “Clean-up, clean-up, everybody clean-up.” Soon, all of the grandchildren, mom and dad, and even grandma and grandpa start helping to pick up toys. Why do family chores together? Well, if you’re in the same room together, you’re bound to talk and play more with one another. I used to assign different rooms for each of my children to clean. If I had it to do over, I would have all of us work together—from cleaning rooms to washing dishes. Hey, I’m still amazed that there are more ways to “see things differently.” I love remembering, “There are more than two sides to a coin.” What do you think?