When I was growing up, my family was a religious household (Mormon) that focused on keeping the family close. We were taught that family comes first. We were told that you do for family before you do for others. We had a set day of the week that we would all gather together and do an activity. This was a required gathering. My Parents believed that these nights were crucial to keeping the family unit strong. We would use these nights to get to know each better through; games, movies, outings, and even dinners. These were the nights that were to be free from arguments, discussions on bad behavior, and sibling fighting. These nights were designed to be Fun and loving. I hated them when I was a Teenager. I saw them as a forced event that kept me from doing what I wanted with my friends. Now that I am older and a parent, I have come to realize that these nights are essential. They bring the Family together and provide a feeling of Safety. They are also a Supportive environment. I try to use my Family nights to strengthen the bonds with my Family. I use the nights to get to know each other better through Discussions and Play. They are used to build Trust for one another. I also see Family night as a way, to make memories, tackle issues before they get out of hand, and to let them know you support them. Connecting with each other is Necessary to ensure proper growth for those we Love.
Today’s post will be going into detail on how to plan Family time. These tips have been taken from all around the web. I will also be giving you some ideas that have worked for my family as well. I hope this post helps your Family have a good time and make the kinds of memories that shape futures.
Activities that will promote happy and healthy children are innumerable and don’t have to be expensive or difficult to access. The key is to give the child your full attention and vice versa. Here are a Few ideas that I found to be Easy and beneficial.
- Family meal time. This could become a family event from the selection of the menu, preparing the food and table, serving, eating together, and cleaning up. During the meal, children and adolescents can be encouraged to talk about what is interesting to them, and not necessarily the usual topics like school and work.
Dinner and a Movie Ideas
The idea of Dinner and a Movie, is to incorporate a meal that was eaten in the Movie, or Food that goes along with the Theme in the Movie. There are plenty of combinations. Pinterest is full of Dinner Themes. Most of them are paired to Family/Kids movies. However there are some for Adults as well. Here are a few that I found Fun. https://www.pinterest.com/flafirecracker/dinner-and-a-movie-ideas/
- Sports. Whether it is playing catch in the yard, going to the gym, or watching the child play or perform, active and positive involvement is rewarding.
- Hobbies such as drawing, crafts, collecting are great fodder for conversation.
- Board games and cards allow for the family to relax and enjoy each other’s company.
- Make a Family Tree. https://familyhistorydaily.com/free-genealogy-resources/free-family-tree-templates/
- Attend a concert or show together.
- Go to the theater, watch television, or rent movies. By watching some shows your child enjoys, you will learn more about him/her and can use the topics brought up for more interesting discussions.
- Outdoor activities such as hiking, walks, bicycling, picnics, or camping.
- Make your own pizza
- Ice cream Sunday bar
- Hide and seek in the dark. Use glow sticks
- Stargazing https://www.skyandtelescope.com/astronomy-equipment/how-to-start-right-in-astronomy/
12.Scavenger hunt
13. Play the Would you Rather Game https://conversationstartersworld.com/would-you-rather-questions/
14. Dance party: Play music and see who has the best Dance moves.
15. Create a nice family video together! You can record a family interview or let each family member share a story. If you want to make it even more fun, you can record each other performing a dance or singing a song.
16. Play charades http://www.getcharadesideas.com/resources/a-list-of-120-easy-and-hard-charades-ideas/
17. Time capsule: Create a family time capsule and include photos, letters, lists of your favorite things, small items, and any other things that you would like to rediscover after a few years. Place all of them in a box, seal it, and write on it the date when you’ll be allowed to open it.
18. Talent show
19. Formal dinner
20. Family photoshoot: You can take the photo with Props(Different items that are funny that they like).
21. Surprise family night: Surprise your kids with an overnight stay at a local hotel (or a hotel in a town nearby). If you can find a hotel with a pool then the kids will have even more fun! You can find good deals on Groupon to make this activity more affordable. https://www.groupon.com/
22. Family interview: Write down a list of question and ask them to each family member. Record the answers either by writing them down or by recording the interviews.
The above pictures of questions were taken from https://30datesblog.com/2015/03/01/the-famous-36-questions-that-lead-to-love/
If you would like a Printable Version of these ideas click the link https://playfulnotes.com/wp-content/uploads/Family-Night-Ideas-Playful-Notes.pdf
I hope that these ideas help you and your Family have a great Night! If you have found these ideas to be helpful, please leave me a comment. If you like the content on this blog, please Share it with your friends/Family and groups. You can also Subscribe to my Blog Via my Home page.
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