Many of us have a good idea about what we would like our family to be before we have children. Some of us choose to have a partner and a home, and then marriage before thinking about having children. Some of us have children with or without a relationship involved, and others of us have children match later in life once we have a career and everything else we find important in place. And some of these ideas about what a family means will of course come from our own childhoods.
This is a contributed post and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Meet The Harris Family.
We tend to want to Correct any mistakes that our parents made, anything that made us feel as though we weren’t in a happy family situation, and we will always want to hold onto the lovely times that we had as children, and provide that for our own children as well. Those Sunday roasts? Something that we really want to carry on and share with our own unique family. This doesn’t have to be too in-depth, but we know that it’s important to stay close as a family one way or another.
One way or another though life can get in the way of us staying connected with each other. Careers, school, and all of the other things that crop up on a daily basis can really throw us out of sync. And the only time we sometimes notice this is when arguments happen, or we realize we don’t know each other as well as we used to. But all is not lost, and being connected is wonderful, and something that we can all work on over time.
What Does This Mean?
What exactly does being “connected“ mean though? Well to everyone it can mean slightly different things, but in essence it can mean being able to communicate effectively. It can mean trusting each other to be able to share our thoughts, and it means supporting each other in our endeavors, and with our tasks and chores. Respect is a big thing when it comes to being connected and close to your family, respecting each other’s opinions, property, and boundaries are generally what staying connected accomplishes.
Why Is It Important?
Staying connected is important, this is because I connected and close family is able to help each other when they’re in trouble, as small children we all need that feeling of security, and the ability to contact a family member if we need something. This is especially true when children get into trouble. If a child or teenager finds themselves hanging out with the wrong children or making mistakes, then be unable to gain the wisdom and support of the family are essential. And having a close and connected family will facilitate this.
It’s important that our children feel safe, are able to make right decisions, and if they are unable to that they get the guidance that they need. Families who don’t focus on staying connected so much end up potentially missing out on opportunities to learn, for both adults and children. No family is perfect but staying on the same page, and staying close to each other certainly increases The chances of being safe and secure. Having a great connection with your family also improved a great deal of confidence in the individuals. And that can be priceless.
How?
So how is it that we can stay connected with our family? Is it as simple as being at the end of the phone? Or is there more to it? Well, it all starts when children are young, supporting them when they need it, and guiding them in the right direction is very beneficial. Children feel safer and secure when they have boundaries, so that discipline that you give them when they are small, helps them understand the world around them. It doesn’t have to be overly firm or constant, but it must be consistent and clear.
Communicating with small children is not the easiest job in the world, but helping them to understand what is expected of them, and where other peoples boundaries lie, set a very solid foundation. Sitting on the floor with a two-year-old playing Lego, does more for helping to stay connected as a family than most other activities. Getting down to a child’s level and making sure that you make eye contact with them, and are very clear in your instructions, also helps you to stay connected. You could even offer to play Fortnite with your children as well, but make sure you follow guides like this one first https://setapp.com/how-to/play-fortnite-on-mac
Laughter
It doesn’t always have to be about firm boundaries and Communication when children are laughing, they are listening and learning, when children are laughing they feel happy and are more likely to feel connected to you. This means that when you make a simple request they should be much more happy to help. Not only do I will children benefit from this but we do as well. The stresses and strains of everyday life can help reduce the amount of laughter we feel in our homes,
Always look for an opportunity to crack a joke, play a game, or just enjoy something funny on the TV now and again. The key here is laughing together about something that you all find funny, and the rest happens naturally. Bonding as a family should be fun, and once the boundaries are in place you can then start to explore the world around you and ways in which you can stay happy and together as a family.
Ideas
Here are some ideas that can help your family bond and grow together, and will also help you to understand that you have options, and even though life is busy time can be made for the important task of reconnecting with your family. This is especially true if you have spent time away from them recently because even though absence makes the heart grow fonder, it can be too easy to lose a bit of connection with each other.
Bowling
Bowling is one of those activities that most of the family enjoy regardless of age, and even adults can get really involved in this one. Bowling alleys are usually very well equipped for families and even the smallest children have the option to use a ramp and use bumpers on the line. You can easily spend a few hours laughing and playing a game whilst bowling, and it’s not a difficult task either. Unless you have an injury or disability of course, but even then there are tools and things you can use to help you be involved.
Most bowling alleys have extra activities such as arcades and cafés attached, so you can really make an afternoon/evening of the event, and what’s even better is it’s all in one area and can be done in any weathers. Of course, this activity does cost money, but as an occasional treat, it can be helpful to stay connected with each other. Having fun bowling is highly recommended by many families.
Sport
There may be a sport that you and one of your children enjoy, or there may be a sport that the whole family can enjoy together, discovering what that is could be a game-changer and could help you all spend plenty of time having fun together. Doubles badminton, for example, can be a great game for beginners, and can also encourage the younger members of the family into the sport. Making sure that everyone is active is also an important part of parenting.
There are quite simply thousands of options, and taking up a sport together not only helps you become fitter and healthier, but it also means that you are spending time as a family. Many parents try to encourage their children into a sport that they already live, and this is great for bonding and sharing activity, but the children themselves may also have ideas on what you can try out together. Why not have a look at martial arts in your area As many families join a martial arts class together and find themselves on a long journey whilst also spending time connecting.
Board Games
Setting up a board game marathon on a rainy afternoon can really help your enjoyment of the week. Of course, there may be tantrums over who loses, but overall playing board games can be greatly appreciated by everyone. No doubt you have a fair few board games locked away somewhere that you can dig out and spend a few hours challenging each other to be crowned the winner.
So the activities themselves don’t make a huge difference, you can spend as little or as much as you want, but essentially whether you’re going swimming or playing board games you will be spending time together and bonding. And ultimately this is the main aim. Everybody wants their family to be happy and well bonded, so taking time out to work on this, even with a busy schedule, is very important. So take a moment to work out what you can do, and ensure that you enjoy yourselves.
