Day-to-day responsibilities of work and school leave busy families little time for connecting with one another. Family nights can help your family stop for a few hours and enjoy having fun together. Family nights do not have to involve complex preparations or expensive entertainment. In fact, you and your family will often discover the best ideas for family fun nights are often the simplest ones as well.
Culinary Pursuits
Family nights provide opportunities for you and your family to exercise your culinary skills. William J. Doherty, PhD, and Barbara Z. Carlson, in "Putting Family First: Successful Strategies for Reclaiming Family Life in a Hurry-Up World," suggest choosing a favorite family meal and preparing it together every week. If you want variety, allow a different family member to choose the meal each week, such as pizza or tacos. Follow up the rigors of meal preparation by relaxing and watching a favorite family television show or movie together.
Reading Adventures
Combine fun with learning by having a family night that centers on reading aloud to one another. Diane W. Kyle, Ellen McIntyre and Karen B. Miller, in "Bridging School and Home Through Family Nights," recommends a family reading night as a way to "highlight the pleasure and value of book reading." Pop some popcorn and choose humorous or exciting stories that will engage every member of your family. For variety, choose a play as reading material and stage an impromptu dramatic performance in your living room.
Seasonal Activities
Choose seasonal activities as the center of your family nights during holiday seasons. Meg Cox, in "The Book of New Family Traditions: How to Create Great Rituals for Holidays and Everyday," suggests focusing family night activities on holiday-specific themes. For example, during Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas, focus on giving and generosity. You and your family might volunteer at a soup kitchen, a home for the elderly or buy gifts for children at a local orphanage for your family night.
Taking Turns
Put a different person in charge of choosing the family night activity each week. Susan Magsamen, in "Family Night!" explains that by allowing a different person to choose the activity each week, you and your family will be able to enjoy a wide variety of family night adventures. For example, watch movies one week, play miniature golf the next and then engage in charades on the third week. Taking turns can help every family member feel more invested during your family night activity.
References
- "Putting Family First: Successful Strategies for Reclaiming Family Life in a Hurry-Up World "; William J. Doherty, Barbara Z. Carlson; 2002
- "Bridging School & Home Through Family Nights"; Diane W. Kyle, Ellen McIntyre, Karen B. Miller; 2005
- "The Book of New Family Traditions: How To Create Great Rituals for Holidays and Everyday"; Meg Cox; 2003
- "Family Night!"; Susan Magsamen; 2007
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