3 Ways to Make Your Family Time Count

Posted by Jennifer L Kropf on December 10th, 2019

Did you know that we only get 936 weeks to spend with our kids from birth to graduation? That's our prime time to connect and positively influence them. And for many of us, a good chunk of that time has already passed. 

It's why we should be wondering... "how do we make the most of the time we have?"

Family time is precious and often limited due to school, work, and activities. So, make the most of it with these three easy ways. 

1. Establish Family Dinners

First, eat together regularly. Aim for at least five times a week. Research shows that kids who eat with their families have a huge leg up in life. And, this doesn't have to be dinner. If breakfast works best, then make that work. Then, spend your time together asking questions and discussing the good and bad parts of your day. Connect in a way you otherwise wouldn't.

2. Create Rituals & Traditions

When you think of your childhood, you most likely remember the habitual things you did with your family. Friday night pizza and weekends at the lake come to mind. So, be intentional about the types of moments you and your kids will remember forever. 

Daily & Weekly Rituals

First, the things that you do daily shape your lives in a huge way. Consistent rituals not only help your lives run smoother, but also give regular bonding opportunities that you wouldn't otherwise have. Try any of these rituals:

• Chore/responsibility checklist for kids
• Kids help with dinner and clean up
• Bedtime and storytime rituals
• Family night (do anything together as a family)
• Family walks
• Date night (for you and your spouse)

Once a Year Traditions

The unique activities that we do as a family are what make us special and help build an identity in our children. Develop traditions that develop that remarkable family bond and give you all something to look forward to. Try one or all of these:

• Create Birthday Traditions that Make Kids Feel Special
• Vacation in the same spot or in a similar spot every year
• Do 3-4 holiday traditions that your family looks forward to
• Invent your own holiday to celebrate together
• Develop rituals for sick days, snow days, or days when parents travel for work

3. Use the In-Between Moments

Finally, many of us don't realize it, but much of our downtime is spent on our phones. Instead, choose a shift in mindset, and use that time to connect with your loved ones. Utilize these times:

• Waiting in line at the store
• Driving to or from school and activities
• Cooking dinner
• Walking to a destination

In Conclusion

How many weeks do you have left to connect and make an impact with your kids? The time is now. You'll never regret the time you spend with them.