Family communication is essential to keep the family together in a healthy and loving way. According to Ramon Zabriskie, a researcher at BYU, sharing leisure time strengthens adaptability and closeness in families. The activities may be formal and planned or informal and impromptu. Tips4Families.com suggests that certain activities can help prevent divorce and increase the chance for a positive family experience. To keep the family strong, spend time planning, talking, working, playing and laughing together, recommend Gail R. Carlson and M. Kathy Dothage in their article "Tips to Strengthen Families," available on the University of Missouri Extension website.
Dinner Together
Sitting down together as a family at least four or five nights per week helps ground most families by providing them with something they can look forward to on a regular basis. Agree upon rules about what should or shouldn't be discussed, because if the family bickers, the time spent together will be unsettling. Shared mealtimes provide the best opportunities to let everyone know of any accomplishments, to start family inside jokes or just to talk about activities of interest.
Parent-Child Dates
An activity that improves communication between parents and their children is a monthly one-on-one date shared between each parent and each child in the family. Go out to dinner and a movie, or go on a picnic or a simple walk around the block. The key to the success of a parent-child date is the creation and development of a mutual bond. If any concerns particular to one child exist, a private date offers you an opportune time to discuss them.
Family Game Night
Once a week or a few times each month, turn off the TV and pull out the board games. Enjoy each other's company while playing a marathon game of Monopoly and munching on popcorn. In addition to enjoying each other's company, your children can learn some basic life rules during these evenings, such as how to be a good sport and what behavior is acceptable in a social situation, all without having to be told explicitly.
Variety Show
Have each person come up with a talent to perform for the whole family. If you only have one child, allow her to invite a friend. Crank up the karaoke, clear the dance floor and let your inner rock star shine through. Afterward, the family can perform an ensemble act. Practicing a group routine will allow communication to flow naturally, and everyone will learn to rely on each other.
Parents' Night Out
Once in a while, parents need to go out on a date without the children. Use this time with your spouse to communicate and to remember why you got together in the first place. These evenings give you a chance to regenerate and to keep the spark of romance going, which in turn will strengthen your shared bond and make your family that much stronger.
