What are you planning to do with your family this weekend? Or next weekend? Or the weekend after that? Coordinating schedules and managing our time is a big part of parenting. Between bringing kids to practice or afterschool activities, having mom and dad on different work schedules, and handling an inevitable child care disruption, it can be easy to lose sight of the importance of making the effort to create time for you and your kids.
With such busy schedules in mind, the NRFC Activities of the Week is filled with ideas on easy, fun, and inexpensive ways you can make the most of the time you have together. Here are a few examples you can try:
Volunteer together!
Research suggests that families who volunteer together forge stronger ties. Also, kids who become involved in community service develop greater self-esteem and are less likely to engage in risky behaviors in their teen years. Check out our Volunteering page for ideas on ways to volunteer together.
Take a ‘what if’ trip.
Looking for a conversation starter over your next family dinner? Try this: If you could visit anywhere, or any time, in the world, where would it be, and why? Share your answer too. Learn more about your dream locations by visiting your local library.
Say Thank You to Your Kids.
Saying ‘thank you’ to your children not only lets them feel loved and appreciated, it also helps teach them the importance of showing thanks to others. How? Say it, spend time together, or give them a card.
Make a fort.
Next time you’re stuck inside, make a blanket fort. Grab blankets, pillows, and flashlights then build something incredible. Even a simple tent between two chairs can feel like an adventure if you and your children are working together.
It’s not about how much time you spend together, the important part is that you are together. Those are the moments that can make the biggest difference in your child’s life. Find more inspiration for spending fun, quality time together by watching our PSA videos!
