With work, school, homework, after school activities, friends and more, there are countless activities that compete for time on the family calendar. Family time, however, can serve as an escape from the demands and deadlines of daily life, and is paramount in building strong relationships. Family time offers many benefits, including building confidence, creating a stronger emotional bond between family members, improving communication skills, better performance in school and reduced behavioral issues, as well as providing an opportunity to make memories built on fun, laughter and togetherness.
Spending time partaking in everyday family leisure activities has been associated with greater emotional bonding within families. Both “core” leisure activities, such as playing a board game, watching television, gardening or playing outdoors and “balance” activities, which require a greater investment of planning, time and money, such as a family vacation or trip to an amusement park or sporting event, can have a big impact on the overall health of a family, according to research published by the National Council on Family Relations. Simply making it a habit to display interest in the well-being of your family members can lead to a willingness to share problems and build mutual respect between parents and children.
