Nuffnang

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This Blog is solely private property of Hanz & TheHoneybunch.All the contents are based on the life we lead and sharing from what I learnt & read. We love homeschool and are happily homeschooling our boys aged 7, 3 and a baby for the past 7 years.

We welcome you to share as we would never stop learning because we believe the world is our classroom. Thank you.



Friday, March 18, 2011

Family Togetherness Fun Activities


Raising a family today requires lots of energy and effort from parents. The demands of today's work schedules often take parents away from their young children. Little time is spent on activities that promote family bonding.

Today's parents spend less time with their children than their parents did in the past. Without proper guidance from parents or involved adults, many of these children may suffer emotional problems when they grow up. Parents also need to take care of themselves. They need lots of energy to do a good job of parenting. If they are under stress, depressed of physically weak, they will not be able to build a strong and happy family.

Below are some fun activities that help build a strong family.


1. Plan special meals

Children are the ones who are happiest when families get together for festive celebrations, anniversaries and reunions. Apart from these occasions, parents can also create special lunches or dinners once a week in which the whole family can join in to make it a fun and meaningful occasion. Such events, enjoyed on a regular basis, can encourage children to develop a sense of security and balance in their lives. For example, the children can choose the cuisine of a particular country, and the parents can help to select the menu after doing some research with the children.

2. Organise a treasure hunt

Gather your family together and make a list of things that you will try to find in your own treasure hunt. It can be as simple as searching for simple items in the garden. You can also leave special notes, telling your family members the things you love about them. Some parents treat their friends with more respect and kindness than they do their children. If we want our children to appreciate what a family is, you must tell them about how you value your family and home.

3. Keep a family journal

A family journal in the form of photos, videos, and even jottings can help keep those warm memories alive. In this age of digital cameras, the whole family can have fun making family videos or writing stories about each other. Years down the road, the children can look back with fond memories at the wonderful times the family shared together.

4. Volunteer your services

Encourage your child to develop a penchant for helping others. Volunteer work strengthens the family unit. Helpfulness learned as a child will last a lifetime. The whole family can participate in volunteer work to keep the community clean or bring cheer to the sick and the poor. This is a good way to forge a sense of closeness that comes with doing good deeds together.

5. Join in family games

Outdoor games help children develop strong bodies. Traditional games such as hopscotch and blind man's bluff have been replaced by digital and electronic games which hardly promote cooperation and sharing. Try to recall the games you used to play as a child. Teach them to your children and play with them. This creates a sense of continuity;your children who learn to play your childhood games can pass them down to the next generation.

6. Trace your family tree

Depending on the age of your child, start a family tree research project to discover stories about relatives and friends. Your children can learn about the family history through this and pick up important lessons about life from the stories of family members who have overcome the odds.
This is a great way to teach family values to children of all ages.

7. Spend time chatting

Spend at least 10 to 15 minutes a day just chatting with your child. Children tend to open up when they are relaxing with their parents. They would share their problems and their achievements of the day during these special moments. Keep an open mind. You can learn a lot from paying attention to what your child tells you. Do not be too quick to give your opinion of offer your help. Let your child take the lead.

8. Read to your child

Every parent must have enjoyed reading storybooks when they were young children. Make it a daily affair to read aloud to your child no matter how old she is. Stories you enjoyed as a kid can also thrill your child. If you do not have any storybooks that you particularly enjoyed, then you can start a collection with your children. This can be your own family treasury of collected stories.

9. Get connected

Families need a place to connect with one another. Find places in your home or in your neighbourhood where your family can feel safe and connected. Look around for these special places where you can connect with your child.

10. Get energised

Physical exercise help to overcome fatigue and stress after a hard day at work. Exercise can also help to bond the family together. Parents and children can take a few moments daily to stretch and jump around together. Healthy bodies build healthy minds.

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