Establishing Family Time

Establishing family time is one of the best things you can do to be a positive parent. It doesn't mean that your children can't have friends or do other things but rather it means making sure that quality family time, such as dinner together, is part of every day. Have fun with your kids with one or more of these fun family activities, while bonding with them, and relaxing too.

Cooking
Cooking with your kids can be a great bonding experience. Have a good time making dessert or snacks together. Baking, making ice cream or preparing homemade snack mixes for school can all be good fun. It may take a longer time to get the meal or snack done but the moments with your children will be priceless. Just remember to approach it with a relaxed attitude and don't mind a messy kitchen. Find simple and fun recipes designed for kids on the internet.

Have a Game Night
Everyone is busy and it's hard to play games during the week. There are meals to prepare, dishes to wash, laundry, homework, mail to open, phone calls to return and the list goes on and on. Instead, try to do a game night on the weekends. How nice it would be to clean up after Friday night dinner and set up a board game, choose seats, get some snacks and start dealing the deck or rolling the dice? Better yet, grab a pizza on the way from work so there's no dinner to prepare and clean! Let the conversation and interaction with your kids flow.

Crafts
Visit a craft store or discount store and buy some items to make inexpensive crafts with your children. You can use crafts to make things easier around the house by making attractive storage spaces to put things. It will also have the added benefit of encouraging your kids to put things away and to stay organized. You can also make family mealtimes more special by decorating napkin rings for each family member, make some place mats, seasonal displays, etc...an added bonus may be your children volunteering to set the table next time. Spend time at bed making up stories that kids can later illustrate or act out for you.

Exercise
You don't need to have a lot of money to exercise. Take a walk with your kids and talk about what you see, appreciating nature and the things around you. If you have bikes, take a ride and maybe visit a store, restaurant or playground on your journey together.

Play Together
Eliminate electronics and TV for an afternoon. Take out the Lego's, dolls, play dough, bubbles, blocks, etc. Build Lego houses, role play with the dolls, blow bubbles in the backyard or bathtub. Be a kid again!

Most people work and it's hard to get a second to yourself and easy to let the computer or TV babysit our kids so we can get some peace at the end of the day. But the quality of time you spend with your family is critical to their development and happiness. Talk with your kids, listen to them and most importantly, play with them. Keep family first because keeping your priorities straight will ensure a happier, better-adjusted family.

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