So now you have a family of your own. Life is funny that way. It seems like only yesterday that you were a child growing up, learning new things, and looking forward to the future. Now that future has come to pass, and it’s your turn to guide the young ones into their own futures in the best way you can. One of the ways you can help them get there is to show them through experience the value of relationships and family togetherness. Let’s explore some activities that can help you facilitate that important goal.
Movie Marathon
Who likes making commentary during the movie? Who likes to “shush” that person? All of these questions and more will be answered when your family gets into a deeply cinematic place. Perhaps it’s time to watch all of the Star Wars movies sequentially. Or, you could pick an actor and start to travel through her or his filmography.
Here we have a great bonding experience because people can not only reflect on the movie, but the larger narrative that several movies create together. Sharing deep thoughts is a great way to build connections and allow everyone’s inner thought processes see the light of day. A comfy couch, like a Chesterfield, can make sure people are motivated to stay till “The End.” After all, if family members have to sit on the floor or uncomfortable furniture, they are more likely to wander off and do their own thing, which would disrupt the family time. Jamie Fielden from SW James (https://www.swjames.com/) advises that because of the size of Chesterfield sofas, you pick a room with adequate space to put it. Having a very cozy place to perch in the living area will also help to coax people out of their rooms for other shared activities.
Board Game Night
Board games don’t just have to happen when the power goes out. They can serve the same function as sports in the sense of building team spirit and channeling the excitement of (hopefully) friendly competition. Another great thing about board games is that they can reveal the hidden strengths of individuals. A game that requires memory, as many of them do, can show off a talent that one of the players may not have even realized.
Also, there is the delicate art of trash talk. When you can jokingly goad your opponent over a game of chess, it can create a warm connection. A game is a place where people are on an equal footing, so the divide between parents and children can take a little break. Seeing the human side of each other makes, the more contentious parts of family life easier to navigate.
Build a Fort
Plastic cups aren’t just for drinking out of. They can also be used to create wonderful beats. Other than that, they can be stacked up like a pyramid. Using this technique, everyone can contribute to creating a house within the house. At that point, maybe someone wants to topple it down like dominos. Maybe someone else wants to capture that moment on, their cell phone with slow-motion effect on. There’s just something about building a fort that brings on the coziness.
Bake Dessert
Ah, the sweet stuff. Everyone can find room in their tummies for a treat, even after a heavy meal. There’s something about doing something that makes it all the more meaningful. You may have trouble getting the kids invested in chopping onions, but when it comes to applying frosting in fun shapes, it’s a different story. The process of creating something as a unit is a team-building experience. And what’s more, after the work is done everyone shares a delicious moment tasting the fruits of their labor together.
Have Family Council
This is a time for the family to get together and hear each individual’s input about what they like about the family dynamic and what they think could be improved upon. While this practice is not always enjoyable in the short term, it can lead to increased family harmony in the long term. Communication is important. Even if some arguments arise, it can make for healthier relationships in the home to have a safe space to air them out.
Video games
Let’s face it. They are kind of like an addiction to many in the younger set. However, this can work to the family’s advantage. Many offer multiplayer modes. When members of different generations commit to working together on the digital plane, interesting things can happen.
So those are some ideas for activities to promote family unity. People from countless relationships through the course of a lifetime, but family members always hold a special place. That’s a good reason to make the most of the time you get to share together.
