6 Ideas to Help Bond with Kids and Family

It doesn’t have to be complicated — with a little bit of effort (& easy suggestions on my Latina Magazine post: http://bit.ly/1RWORNE), you can turn bonding into a lifetime of funny, sweet stories and lasting memories.

Between juggling so many responsibilities, it can seem like there are not enough hours to spend with children. However, when the whole family is involved in planning fun activities, you’ll have more opportunities to experience special moments.

“Family glue” is what Pat Tanner Nelson, professor of Human Development & Family Studies at University of Delaware, calls those moments that connect your family and build deep, healthy relationships. “Spending time together as a family takes planning, but it’s a good investment,” Nelson says. “When children feel close to their parents, they try harder to please them and make them proud, which then makes the whole family stronger.” It doesn’t have to be complicated — with a little bit of effort, you can turn bonding into a lifetime of funny, sweet stories and lasting memories.

Designate a Holiday or Special Day for Each Family Member Spend time with your child by seeing a movie, playing in the park, or visit a local children’s museum. Surprise family members with “holidays” tailored to each personality. Celebrate the person by doing things they like, making their favorite foods, or anything that helps to highlight their uniqueness. The time allows your child or family member to have your undivided attention and is a good opportunity for open and honest conversations.

Plant a Family Garden Gardening is not only a way to grow flowers and food but also a way to connect with your family. A garden does not have to be perfect but you do want to teach your children how to do things the right way. Explain, show them how to do it and then let them do it. You will be amazed at what they can accomplish. For example, plant easy to grow fruits and vegetables, such as beans, cherry tomatoes and lettuce for younger children. Older children may relish in the challenge of harder plants like corn, potatoes, onions that take more work to start and cultivate.

Make and Eat a Meal Together Proven research shows that families, who eat together regularly, have happier, healthier children who perform better at school. “The more you can get into the habit of really listening to your kids and having these conversations from early ages, the more likely it is that kids are going to talk to their parents in adolescence about issues that are troubling them,” says Richard Weissbourd, a Harvard psychologist and the author of The Parents We Mean to Be.  When at the grocery store, ask children to help select foods that the family will be making at the kitchen. At home, encourage children to be involved in the cooking process or set the dinner table. Do something out of the ordinary like making bread or pizza dough or a sweet treat from scratch that everyone can help making.

Watch a Movie Marathon If your kids love movies, pick out some classic movies to watch for a day. Create a Sundae bar with lots of ice cream flavors and toppings. Make some popcorn and have soda on hand. Choose a theme like cowboy westerns, comedies or aliens.

Organize a Video Olympics Wii offers lots of sports like bowling, tennis, baseball and boxing. Keep them short so everyone has a turn. You can even set up tournaments and play for prizes to make it more competitive. You can play in teams and get t-shirts in team colors to make it feel more official. Setting up a food bar with sports drinks, protein bars and fresh fruits and veggies will give it an authentic touch.

Head to the Park Find a list of all the parks in your city and make a plan to visit as many as you can during the break. As part of the fun, pack a picnic. This way, your kids can still run around outside and you’ll all be ready for a nap afterwards. Check out the playgrounds or the trails, and then when home, place stickers on a map of your city identifying each parks and playgrounds you have visited.

Remember the most important thing is to spend time with your family and enjoy each other’s company.

Read more on my weekly parenting and family column on Latina Magazine! I will be sharing advice, resources and tips for busy moms and families including fun activities to keep the family entertained and make quality time that much better.