Mother Teresa famously once said, “What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family,” and we couldn’t agree more. This year has been a time of upheaval and uncertainty for many, but it’s also been an opportunity to focus on the most important things – like time spent with our families. If you’re looking for opportunities to build those relationships even more, here are 7 surprising ways to bring your family closer than ever.
1. Go for a Walk
Daily walks are good for your heart and bones, improves your mood and sleep, and burns calories while being gentle on your joints. By taking a walk as a family, you can improve your health and spend valuable time together. Better yet, take a walk around your neighborhood together after dinner. You’ll burn a few calories, create new memories, and all sleep better at night.
2. Listen to an Audiobook
Having a hard time starting conversations with your kids? Find an audiobook to enjoy together, and you’ll begin having all sorts of book-related discussions! This is also an excellent way to spend all that time in the car driving back and forth from school or sports activities. Plus, kids don’t fight when they’re engaged in an exciting story. Apps like Amazon Kindle and Audible make it easy to stream an audiobook from your phone at any time.
3. Volunteer Together
We admit, it can be difficult to find time for volunteering, but evidence suggests it’s worth the effort. Studies show that kids who volunteer perform better in school and are less likely to use drugs and alcohol. Additionally, working together towards a common purpose builds important bonds between parents and children.
4. Create New Traditions
Create traditions now that your family can carry on for generations. The good thing about family traditions is that they can be big or small. Institute a Saturday pizza and movie night. Order your favorite pizza takeout and let family members take turns picking out the movie. Is your crew more of the active type? Set aside one night a week for family game night. Our favorite place to enjoy exciting family games is in the hot tub!
5. Give Hygge a Try
What is hygge? Hygge (pronounced hoo-gah) is a Danish word that Dictionary.com defines as, “the feeling of coziness and contentment evoked by simple comforts, as being wrapped in a blanket, having good conversations, enjoying food, etc.” Spend an evening (or whole weekend) and get cozy with a soft blanket, warm drink, and some candlelight. Sometimes, simply slowing down together is the best medicine. There’s a reason why Denmark is the happiest country in the world!
6. Make a Sourdough Starter
Looking for a way to incorporate a little scientific discovery into your life? The whole family will enjoy it when you make a sourdough starter. It’s fascinating to observe how the yeast “eats” the sugars and releases carbon dioxide making gas and bubbles in the starter. And the best part is that you’ll be enjoying golden, crusty loaves of delicious sourdough bread for years to come.
7. Take a Dip
We can’t think of a better way to bring your family closer than soaking in a hot tub. It’s fun, relaxing, and an excellent opportunity to encourage deeper conversations. Try starting out with some fun conversation starters such as:
- If you could be any superhero, who would you be and why?
- If you could plan our next family vacation, where would we go?
- What if you could travel to a different historical period, what would it be?
You’ll be surprised by what your children reveal once you get them talking. There’s just something about the relaxing benefits of hydrotherapy that creates the perfect environment for heart-to-hearts and family togetherness.
At Backyard Oasis we have been working as a family since 1983 and bringing families together is our top priority! If you’re ready to bring your family closer than ever with evening soaks in a hot tub, download one of our free brochures today.
