Kids love belonging to a team, so show your support. Make sure your partner
and yourself attend the majority of your shared children’s sports games,
spelling bees and other organized teams. It will show your children that you
love and support them, and it will bring you back to the perspective you once
had as a child.
Learning together.
Instead of cheering your child on, why not join them? Find an
extracurricular activity that the whole family can enjoy together – join a
choir, a karate class or a local theater group. Or, spearhead an organized
activity – become a Boy Scout leader, a soccer coach or church youth leader
just for your child’s age.
Picture Pages.
Sit down in the living room and have the family share their personal stash
of pictures – kids especially love to see images of their parents/guardians
when they were younger, and it provides you the opportunity to share stories of
your youth.
Current events.
Openly discuss current events with your family when ever you have the chance
(in the car, while eating breakfast, etc.). Get their perspective on what’s
happening in the world today, and explain to them how the news applies to their
own lives. This opens the door to open communication and shows your children
that their thoughts matter, and in your mind, their votes count.
Game night.
Establish a game night one night a week and play all your favorites. Find
some inexpensive gifts at the dollar store or candy isle and reward winners
(and losers too). It’s fun and easy, and you’ll find your family eager for the
next game night.
Family room fever.
Traditionally, mothers take it upon themselves to decorate the house in
their tastes and desires. But, if you have a family gathering place – a den or
rec room or other area – why not have the whole team design and implement a
theme for the room? This is a great way to learn how to work together as a
group and it gives kids exposure to that much needed characteristic –
compromise. Once you have a plan in place, put everyone to work – paint the
room together, go shopping at flea markets or garage sales to find furniture
and accessories for the room and refinish them together. Then the next time you
have family time in the “family room” everyone will appreciate all the work
that went into it.
Sharing time.
Are you a whiz with the camera? Do you throw pots like a professional? Why
not show your kids your special talent? Not only will they learn a new skill,
but they may find a new passion they never would have known about if you didn’t
open their eyes to it.