{"id":6949,"date":"2016-03-15T10:05:06","date_gmt":"2016-03-15T10:05:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=6949"},"modified":"2023-04-29T13:28:46","modified_gmt":"2023-04-29T13:28:46","slug":"great-family-advice-for-combining-fun-and-functionality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/family\/great-family-advice-for-combining-fun-and-functionality\/","title":{"rendered":"Great Family Advice for Combining Fun and Functionality"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Great<\/p>\n

Raising a family is indeed a serious business, but that doesn’t mean it has to be devoid of any fun and laughter. <\/span><\/p>\n

On the contrary, it is, in fact, the lighter side of life which makes the hard lessons easier to learn. <\/span><\/p>\n

As the famous Mary Poppins<\/a> once said, “a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down…” Perhaps you are wondering how to go forward and enjoy family time, especially if you feel that you did not have a functional example to follow from your own upbringing. <\/span><\/p>\n

Then take heart and be encouraged because life is all about learning new things, and why not have a little fun while you are about it?<\/span><\/p>\n

Now that you know spending quality time with family is important, try these family communication activities to mark the importance of family time.<\/p>\n

Read on to find some great family advice 101 on how to spend more time with family.<\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/span>1. Having fun takes time and planning<\/span><\/h2>\n

Although some of the most special memories are made spontaneously when something unexpected happens, it is also true that having fun usually entails some purposeful planning and setting aside the time to be together as a family. <\/span><\/p>\n

It is very easy to become caught up in a busy work schedule, but remember that no one on their deathbed has ever wished they had spent more time at work. <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Rather than having regrets later, while you have the time now, use it wisely to invest in your precious family relationships and explore exciting ways to strengthen family relationships. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>2. Friends make all the difference<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Friends<\/p>\n

Whether it’s a camping trip, a day at the lake, or an evening playing board games, it’s always more fun when some friends come along too.<\/span><\/p>\n

Encourage your children to invite their friends to join your family time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps those friends do not have stable homes and your family may be the only example they get to see of a happy, <\/span>functional family<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

You will also be teaching your children to be inclusive rather than exclusive and to share their times of fun and laughter. It is also a good tip on how to improve family communication and have a good time with your family. <\/span><\/p>\n

It is certainly true that as you are a blessing to others, you yourself will be blessed in return.<\/span><\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/span>3. It’s all about talking and listening<\/span><\/h2>\n

Yes, communication is where it starts and ends when it boils down to family tips on enhancing a family’s happiness. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you listen carefully as your spouse and children speak, not interrupting, and noticing the emotions that accompany their words, you will find that they, in turn, will be more willing to listen when you speak.<\/span><\/p>\n

Good communication skills<\/span><\/a> are essential to family life in every area, whether it is setting boundaries, making decisions or getting chores done.<\/span><\/p>\n

And as you get to know each other so well, you will develop those special little family ‘inside jokes’ or even nicknames which go a long way to affirming a sense of belonging within a <\/span>happy family<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>4. Help out the community<\/span><\/h2>\n

In the list of activities to strengthen family relationships, this one figures prominently.<\/span><\/p>\n

Set aside a day in a month, or allocate a weekend in a month to help out the community.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is a great opportunity to lead by example and teach your kids about giving back to those in the community who are less privileged and needier.  There are a lot of volunteering opportunities out there to choose from.<\/span><\/p>\n

You could lend a patient ear and companionship to the old, transport food to feed the hungry and downtrodden, help in maintaining your community as a green area, support a neighborhood charity or even socialize with animals at a local animal shelter.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>5. Take a post-meal family stroll<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Take<\/p>\n

Family spending time together does not need to be an elaborate affair. It could be something as simple as taking a leisurely walk around the neighborhood or at a local park.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spend time talking on light subjects, enjoying each other’s company and you could also discuss and have a vote on interesting family traditions, activities or rituals to follow moving ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n

Taking a walk after you eat really is good for you to shake up the routine, improve your health, aid digestion and it helps bring you closer together as a family.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>6. Cook together as a family<\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Cook<\/p>\n

Spending more time with family, planning for an outing can seem challenging sometimes, with a busy routine.<\/p>\n

But cooking together as a family benefits everyone in the family and outweighs the extra cleanup post the collective culinary expedition.<\/p>\n

Kids can learn a horde of skills and cultivate positive traits while cooking.<\/p>\n

Collaborative skills, communication skills, patience, cooking techniques, taking initiative, resourcefulness and using technology to seek out information on preparing food.<\/p>\n

Also cooking a meal together gives you a great opportunity to bond together as a family.<\/p>\n