You fit a lot into your day, from working and cleaning house to helping with homework and driving to soccer. You'd like to communicate more with your family, but finding time to do so may seem like another chore. To make it more of a pleasure, combine family talk time with an activity everyone enjoys.
Communication Game
Play a communication game when a family issue arises, recommends the University of Illinois Extension. Everyone sits around a table with a serving spoon in the middle. The person who has the problem takes the spoon and explains his or her point of view, with no interruptions. When they have finished, the next family member who wants to talk picks up the spoon. This method gives each person the chance to express feelings while the others listen, and the spoon turns it into a game. As you wrap up the conversation, you can use the spoon to serve the family a treat such as ice cream.
Family Meals
Make dinner a time to talk, suggests the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If you can't get everyone together every evening, try for three or four days a week. Eating together offers families a way to focus on each other without distractions.
During dinner, ask the kids how their day went and who they hung out with, or plan a group activity and put it on the calendar. Also, find out what the family would like to eat for the next dinner-and-conversation session.
Activity Time
Fit lighthearted family time into your crowded schedule, says Wahm.com, an online magazine for mothers who work at home. You can chat and learn a lot about your kids as you ride bike rides, paddle kayaks, or play board and card games.
Movie nights are prime time for family communication, too. Munch on pizza and watch a DVD that interests everyone. Serve dessert after the movie, and use the time to discuss the children's reactions and feelings about what they just saw.
Volunteering
Find a volunteer activity you and your children enjoy. Working together for a common cause encourages family conversation and bonding, says Compassionate Kids, a nonprofit children's organization. Volunteer opportunities can include walking animals at your local shelter, helping clear community bike trails, and working on projects with younger schoolchildren.
