Time is at a premium for today's families. Many households are dual-income, and children may engage in one or more extracurricular activities after school. The challenge often lies in finding ways to spend quality time together as a family. Although that can sometimes feel impossible, with a little creativity and thoughtful planning, families can find time with one another.
1. Adust wake-up time. Have the family get up with the earliest riser. Then everyone can enjoy breakfast together and touch base about their day to come. Many activities that keep families busy occur after school, so this ensures at least one family meal together every day.
2. Take off for school holidays. Working parents can adust their schedules to include a few vacation days used on school holidays. This way everyone benefits from sleeping in and spending time together.
3. Schedule a family day off. Preplan for a weekday when the entire family stays home from work or school. Museums, indoor play areas, movie theaters, and other attractions are less busy during the week than during the weekend. This allows families to have more fun together.
4. Turn chores into family projects. Work around the house will get done much more quickly if everyone pitches in. Plus, this is a great opportunity to work together and learn new skills. Kids may enjoy learning how to prepare meals or plant a garden.
5. Host a family reunion. Extended families may only have the opportunity to see each other a few times a year. Annual family reunions help strengthen the bond adults and children have with their extended families and provide a fun reason to get together.
6. Schedule a weekly family night. Families can make sure that at least one night each week the schedule is free so that they can spend time together playing a game, watching a movie or doing another family-friendly activity.
