Between everyone’s busy schedules it’s important to take some time out once a week to spend together as a family. No distractions! Turn the cell phones off, no TV, no computers, just the family! Pick a night of the week to be a special night to spend just you and the kids. For us growing up, we all knew that Monday night was family night. As we got older and our schedules got busier with school and work, family night became less and less frequent. Now that I have my own family, I’d love to start it up again.
Have your children take turns picking the game each week. That way they all get a chance and it is something they can look forward to. You can even take turns choosing what dessert you guys will have after the game is over. Sit around the table and laugh and play with your children. This is a great time to talk about things that have gone on during the week.
Nights like this are also a great teaching tools for your children. You can teach them about team work and the importance of being a good sport. Try not to take the games too seriously. They are there to bring you together, not tear you apart. Stress the importance of playing just for fun, that whether you win or lose, it doesn’t really matter. Help them build relationships with each other while they play.
When you make spending time as a family a priority it helps bring you together in other ways too. It helps create stronger bonds between siblings and parents. It helps to open the lines of communication and gives each of you a chance to be involved in each other’s lives. Your children will look back fondly at the time they spent together and thank you for never letting anything come in the way of their night as a family.