Some Simple Family Pleasures

Having fun with your family, especially the simple kind of fun – the one that doesn’t drain you emotionally and financially, is a wonderful way to relax and enjoy life. And in times of economic uncertainty it is especially important to enjoy family time that does not involve spending lots of money.

Here are some ideas for high-quality, low-cost, stress-free family fun.

1)  Make a large bowl of snacks and snuggle in front of the DVD to watch a family movie.
2) Snuggle together in bed on a a lazy Sunday morning.
3) Go out for a leisurely Sunday brunch. Many restaurants offer great Sunday buffets, and prices these days are more reasonable than ever. Kids often eat free of charge.
4)  Just talk. The older my kids are, the more interesting our conversations become.
5)  Try tongue twisters.You probably heard of this favorite, “She sells seashells by the seashore.” Repeat three times, FAST!
6)  During dinner, ask each family member to tell one good thing and one bad thing that happened to them that day. The good things are obviously fun to share. The “bad things” are a great opportunity for your kids to talk about things that bother them and for you to be more involved in their lives.
7) Create a story together. Each family member gets to add one sentence at a time. These stories can be seriously funny, especially if one of the kids happens to be in a silly mood.
8)  Look at a picture album together and tell your kids the stories behind the pictures.
9)  Visit the library. Browse the children’s books together. Read them a story or two. Browse the grownups’ selection too: it’s good for your kids to see you’re interested in books.
10) Play a board game. We don’t believe in letting the kids win. After all, their friends won’t let them win. The good news (or bad news, depending on your point of view): they often win anyway.
11) Dance together. Play some loud music and go crazy with the moves.
12) Read a book together.  You can read to your child, or she can read to you, or you can simply snuggle together, each of you reading her own book.
13)  Watch TV together. TV is not just a convenient babysitter: it can be an opportunity to share an experience with your kids. When you’re done watching, talk about what you saw. Use it as an opportunity to talk about advertising, since there’s so much of it these days aimed at children.

Do remember to have FUN! Be present to enjoy the journey instead of rushing through life like a madman.

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