10 ideas for meaningful connections

by Alyssa Chirco

We’ve been hearing for years about the many benefits of family dinner. Unfortunately, many of us still struggle to fit family dinners into our nightly schedule. Remember that opportunities for meaningful connections with your kids exist throughout the day. These 10 ideas might work for you.

Family Breakfast

Is your entire family at home in the morning? Instead of grabbing Pop Tarts on the go, get up a bit earlier and sit down at the breakfast table together. Family breakfast does not need to be elaborate or time-consuming. Set up a cereal bar with several dry cereal options and fresh fruit or search for overnight slow cooker recipes that require minimal effort on busy mornings.

Family Dessert

Even if you reheat dinner when Dad gets home late or eat fast food in the car before soccer practice, the whole family can still indulge in a treat together before bedtime. Bake a batch of cookies or buy a container of the family’s favorite ice cream, then gather around the table and take turns talking about the highlights of the day.

Family Car Trips

Instead of feeling like a taxi service while you chauffeur your children from dance classes to piano lessons to soccer practice, use the opportunity to start a conversation. Turn off smartphones and gaming devices and break the ice by playing a fun game like Twenty Questions. When the game ends, ask your kids
which topics they would like to discuss. Their answers may surprise you.

Family Meetings

When held regularly, family meetings have the power to resolve conflicts, build unity and foster a sense of autonomy by engaging children in decision-making. Plan to meet at least twice a month to share accomplishments, discuss upcoming plans and brainstorm solutions to problems or concerns within the family.

Family Vacation

Spend quality time together by taking a break from the ordinary. Whether you travel to an exotic destination, plan a cheap weekend getaway or spend a few lazy days at home on a staycation, focus on relaxing with your kids and making happy memories.

Family Game Night

Whether you play every Friday night or only once a month, a game night is an easy and inexpensive way to bring the family together. Pull out a classic board game like Battleship or Parcheesi. Help your preschooler learn colors and numbers with a card game like Uno. Or turn on the Wii or Xbox and get everyone in the competitive spirit with a video game dance-off. Yes, Mom and Dad have to dance, too.

A Family Journal

When you keep a family journal, every person has a designated place to write notes for other family members to read at their convenience. To get started, purchase a notebook and encourage everyone to share and read at regular intervals. You can also keep your family’s journal online. For example, a family journal is included when you create a free account with the family organization website, Cozi.com.

Family FaceTime

Applications like FaceTime and Skype, which allow for face-to-face video calls, are wonderful inventions for parents who travel, work late or do not live in the same home as their kids. They are also a valuable tool for parents of teenagers, since touching base with tech-savvy teens often requires meeting them where they are, which these days is almost always on a smartphone.

One-on-One Time

Children love to receive a parent’s undivided attention. So if Dad works the night shift and cannot be home for family dinner, an occasional father-daughter or father-son “date” would be a much appreciated way for him to sneak in more time with each child.

Sunday Supper

Even if only one day of the week works for everyone, add family dinner to the calendar and honor the commitment. Many families find that cooking a special Sunday Supper or splurging on Sunday Brunch at a favorite restaurant is a nice way to bring the family together on a day that is typically less busy than the rest.

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