{"id":184000000320,"date":"2020-07-01T13:47:07","date_gmt":"2020-07-01T18:47:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kidsrkids.com\/lawler-farm-in-frisco\/?p=184000000320"},"modified":"2020-07-01T13:47:07","modified_gmt":"2020-07-01T18:47:07","slug":"family-bonding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kidsrkids.com\/lawler-farm\/2020\/07\/01\/family-bonding\/","title":{"rendered":"FAMILY BONDING"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the whole family is involved in planning fun activities, you\u2019ll have more opportunities to experience special moments. \u201cFamily glue<\/em>\u201d is what Pat Tanner Nelson, professor of Human Development & Family Studies at University of Delaware, calls those moments that connect your family and build deep, healthy relationships. \u201cSpending time together as a family takes planning, but it\u2019s a good investment<\/em>,\u201d Nelson says. It doesn\u2019t have to be complicated\u2014with a little bit of effort, you can turn bonding into a lifetime of funny, sweet stories and lasting memories.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

Plant a Family Garden
\n<\/span>Encourage everyone to get their hands dirty by digging a patch to plant flowers or vegetables in the backyard. Tuck tender seedlings into the ground and watch them grow and blossom\u2014like your kids are doing every day. Your whole family will gain a new respect for the natural world, all while learning patience and perseverance as you divvy up the tasks of keeping the garden weed-free, well-watered, and strong.<\/p>\n

Conduct Family Interviews
\n<\/span>Members of your family\u2019s older generations, like grandparents, great-aunts, and great-uncles, have many fascinating stories of growing up in different eras. Have your kids ask them what life was like in yesteryear and use a voice, or video recorder to capture their unique stories. By collecting personal anecdotes and memories, you\u2019ll have a time capsule of family history. As kids learn about their heritage, they can start thinking about their own legacies. Transcribe the interviews to create a book or digital file of photos for a slideshow to accompany the interviews.<\/p>\n

Plan a Family Photo-shoot
\n<\/span>There\u2019s no better way to make and preserve family memories than by planning a family photo-shoot. The best way to capture those real candid moments is to seek out a photographer with a photo-journalistic style who knows how to handle kids during lifestyle shoots. Pick a spot for the shoot that your family already loves, like a local park or playground.<\/p>\n

Cook (and Eat) a Family Meal
\n<\/span>Studies show that kids who dine frequently with their parents have improved academic performance, increased self-esteem, and a reduced risk of obesity. Regular dinnertime conversations are also linked with more open communication between kids and parents.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe more you can get into the habit of really listening to your kids and having these conversations from early ages, the more likely it is that kids are going to talk to their parents in adolescence about issues that are troubling them<\/em>,\u201d says Richard Weissbourd, a Harvard psychologist and the author of\u00a0The Parents We Mean to Be<\/em><\/a>. Start with a collection of recipes and then assign everyone an age-appropriate job. Get creative with ingredients and techniques to forge delicious memories.<\/p>\n

Take a Family Nature Walk
\n<\/span>Getting out into nature offers a special kind of space for enjoying each other\u2019s company. Although research hasn\u2019t yet pinned down the science behind the benefits of fresh air, \u201cnatural settings seem to help calm down children (and everyone)<\/em>,\u201d Nelson says. So, as you stroll down a wooded trail, along a shoreline, or even through an urban park, breathe in, let your shoulders relax, and look around at the trees, the birds, the sky, and each other.<\/p>\n

Designate a Family \u201cHoliday\u201d
\n<\/span>Surprise family members with \u201cholidays\u201d tailored to each personality. Just like birthdays and conventional holidays, pack these days with unique traditions (like a poem written in someone\u2019s honor) and special foods. The celebrations can also be clever and unexpected ways to honor each person. You can make them their favorite food, take turns talking about your favorite thing about this family member, and even make up fun games or trivia about your family members!<\/p>\n

Start a Family Book Club
\n<\/span>Once everyone in the family is old enough to read (or listen to read-aloud stories), take turns choosing a book and then pick one day each month to sit down and talk about it. Think of questions that will make the discussions come alive and let whoever chose the book lead the conversation. If you\u2019re having trouble choosing a title, ask a local librarian or bookstore owner for advice. You can even extend an invitation to other family members who live far away by asking them to send thoughts via email or chat with them over FaceTime.<\/p>\n

Make Family Art
\n<\/span>Plan your project, set up the necessary supplies, and let the creative magic happen. Try tracing everyone\u2019s hands, filling in the outlines with colorful designs, and framing everyone\u2019s prints. Or cut up copies of family photos or mementos to create a group collage or scrapbook. If you want to be bold, paint a mural on the entire wall of a playroom or family room. Displaying your collective artwork is a memorable and lasting tribute for your family.<\/p>\n

Sources:
\nHolly Lebowitz Rossi
\nparents.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When the whole family is involved in planning fun activities, you\u2019ll have more opportunities to experience special moments. \u201cFamily glue\u201d is what Pat Tanner Nelson, professor of Human Development & Family Studies at University of Delaware, calls those moments that connect your family and build deep, healthy relationships. \u201cSpending time together as a family takes […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":248,"featured_media":1136,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[184000000010],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-184000000320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFAMILY BONDING - Lawler Farm<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/kidsrkids.com\/lawler-farm\/2020\/07\/01\/family-bonding\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"FAMILY BONDING - 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