Family Time, Together Time

Two moms and 3 children playing a board game at the table

Life can be busy and stressful. It's easy to get so wrapped up in daily tasks that you don't have as much family time as you would like. Still, taking time to bond for even a short time each day is very important. Bonding as a family teaches kids valuable life skills.

Connecting with each other is how we feel safe and loved. It helps us feel able to live our best lives.

- Courtney Barnard, director of Child Wellness, Cook Children's Center for Community Health

Studies show that kids who have regular family time may be more likely to succeed. Family time is how kids learn to connect with others throughout their lives. Time with parents and family members teaches kids values, ways to manage their emotions, and how to treat themselves and others with respect.

Making conversation meaningful

Families are busy working and going to activities, so it might not seem like there's a lot of time just for family fun time. But family time doesn't have to be a big splash. Sometimes it can be just giving a few minutes of undivided attention. Even a hug for an extra three seconds or being in the same room while your child does homework goes a long way.

Asking your child questions to get them talking. To get a conversation going, ask them more than just how their day was. Use creative prompts to make it more fun and engaging. You might ask silly questions, such as:

If you could be an animal, which one would you be? Why?
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

You can also ask thoughtful questions, such as:

How can you show someone they're special to you?
What made you smile today?

These prompts are great for family mealtime, car rides or playtime. Meaningful conversations can happen anywhere.

Getting active

Doing fun activities together is a great way to bond. Rain or shine, there are many ways for families to spend quality time together.

Indoor fun

Having a family game night is fun and easy to do. To get started, visit a dollar store and pick up a variety of card games. Be sure to get games that are right for your child's age.

Board games are another option, and you can adapt them to fit the skill level of the kids in your family. You can even change the rules that came with the game. For sibling bonding, pair up a younger child with an older child.

Scavenger hunts aren't just for outdoors anymore. Indoor scavenger hunts can be like a game of hide and seek, except one person hides items around the house and then family members have to find them. The person who finds the most items wins the game. For an added challenge, the hider can also create "clues" that seekers use to find the hidden items.

The great outdoors

Another way to spend quality time together is exploring the outdoors. This could include going for a walk, hiking, or planning a scavenger hunt. Younger kids can look for things along the way, like acorns or certain colors in nature. Older kids might want to draw what they see.

Walk, run, fun … together

Whether you're spending time with your family or your hanging out with your neighborhood friends, these walking and running games are a great way to have fun outdoors.

Trail tracker

You'll need to head to a park for this fun game. Pick a trail to walk or run, and then assign points to different things you might see while out in nature. Example:

Squirrels are 20 points.
People on the trail carrying a water bottle are 10 points.
A bird is only 5 points, but you get 10 points if it's carrying something.
A deer is 50 points.

Make up your own point values for other things you might see. At the end of the walk or run, see who has the highest score.

Red light, green light

Parents, you probably remember this game from school. Have the kids line up in an open space —or even on a school track, your backyard or an empty road - and create a starting point and a finish line. An appointed caller will yell out instructions that the kids will follow until someone crosses the finish line. Whomever crosses the finish line first wins.

When the caller says:

"Green light," everyone runs.
"Yellow light," everyone walks.
"Red light," everyone stops.

People who keep walking or running are out.

RUN

You may have heard of the game "HORSE" in basketball, and maybe even played it, but what if you tried it as a running game? Here's how it works: In the basketball version of HORSE, the first person (the leader) decides the kind of shot everyone will make, and everyone playing has to make that shot to stay in the game. The rules are very similar in the running version of HORSE, but it's called RUN.

To play RUN you'll need a large, open space, like a playground or park. Here are the rules:

The leader decides a funny way to run and chooses the end point for their run. For example, you might have to run like a monkey from a tree to the basketball court. Or, someone might have to run backward from the playground slide to the corner of a nearby building.
If the players don't finish their funny run, they're assigned a letter. The first letter they are assigned is "R." If they don't finish another run after that, they're assigned "U." The third time they don't finish a funny run, they get the letter "N." Once they have enough letters to spell out RUN, they're out of the game.
The leader of RUN changes after each activity.

Want to mix it up and make it more challenging? Try adding in props like jump ropes, soccer balls or toy hoops. The leader could make someone jump rope, kick a soccer ball or roll a toy hoop - all while they run from point to point.

Indoors or outdoors, rain or shine, no matter how you bond with your child, it will make a difference. Look for opportunities in your everyday activities to connect. Each day has little moments in it. Those little moments are what count toward building a strong and connected family. Have fun!

Looking for family fitness and nutrition ideas? Find them here