Fun Ways to Connect with your Kids

father and children playing near a house at the day time

Today we are sharing fun ways to connect with your kids. In this fast, instant world it is hard to slow down sometimes.

“Grandpa, do you remember the time when you came to visit us. I think I was like 8 years old. All I remember is you were singing your songs on the front porch while I was on my favorite toy, the Sit N Spin. You would always pick us kids up and sometimes put us on your shoulder. It was great, fond memories.”

How do you spend your family time each night? Learn how to connect with your kids and grandchildren.

Some days may seem hard, but you actually just get stronger every day, as you learn new coping skills to deal with life’s ups and downs. These are just some of the lessons in life that are great to teach your children and future grandchildren. You can even connect with your kids closer during difficult times. They make for some great bonding moments.

I remember when we were having a bad blizzard in Indiana as a child and we had no electricity or water for about a week. It was a very difficult time. The good news was, school was closed. Remember when you used to sit by the radio or tv and listen closely to see if they were going to announce your school as “closed.” We had to connect as a family and stay warm, entertained, and calm as we were all forced to snuggle up in our small living room to keep what little heat we had there, using the kerosene heater. As winter is approaching us, we are trying to get a jump start with ideas to help you bond or connect with your family.

1. Make cards for each other in the family. Acknowledge their strengths and why you love them so much. Express gratitude for all they do in the home to help the family. It will help you bond and connect closer as a family, as you read the cards out loud to each other. It will be fun to learn how much the other family member has been watching and noticing you as a part of the team of help and love.

2. Do something nice for the other family member without being asked. This can be things like chores, making a sentimental craft, or playing with your brother or sister so your mom can have time to do what she wants to.

3. Share your stories about when you were a young child, with your kids, about how you made it through your first day of high school, or other difficult times in your life. This will help you connect with your kids as they will realize that times really have not changed that much.

4. Sometimes technology is a good thing and it can help us connect with our kids too. Use Skype so that you can see other family members from across the states or country, on live video as you talk to each other besides just using the cell phone. This is especially great when your husband is far away on a business trip. Keep up your same night time routine as you talk with daddy over Skype and he reads a book to the kids before bed time. This can help you connect and bond even when you are far from home.

5. Make a Family Time Capsule together. What a great idea to draw you all closer as you think of the most important items that represent you as a family, to include in the time capsule. Write “Message to the Future” letters to yourselves about where you think you will be in 20 or 30 years from now. How many kids do you think you will have in the future? Will you get married? What college will you go to? Predict what the price of gas will be in the future or whether or not we will have flying cars, like in the movie Back to the Future. It is a fun project to do together that is sure to connect you as a family. Get the “Any Occasion” DIY Time Capsulefrom www.timecapsule.com, and start decorating and creating your own Family Time Capsuletoday. Read this blog on how to put one together.

Family can drive us crazy at times, but family also helps motivate, encourage, and inspire us to live our daily lives, driving us down the right path for life. What are some ways that you connect closer with your kids? Share in the comments below.

Making Milestone Moments Count,

– Marcie