• having a vision for our familu life
• pausing to think about what we want to achieve
• what will our children’s memories be of us and their home in twenty years, time?
Goals for our family life - When they are adults, will our children associate their upbringing with:
• having fun together as a family?
• being listened to?
• being able to talk through difficult choices?
• being encouraged and affirmed?
• being valued for their unique personality and gifts?
• knowing they are loved?
• learning important values of honesty, generosity, etc.?
• learning to think about others?
• being prayed for?
• having clear boundaries for their own protection?
• seeing kindness modeled?
The importance of play
• using their imagination
• learning skills
• playing on their own
• playing with others
• indoor and outdoor play
• limiting screen time
Question: Did you have fun with your family growing up? When do you have the most fun together as a family now?
make sure the time is clear of any other commitments for every member of the family
prevent interruptions from the telephone or other people (unless they are invited with the understanding that it is family time
Suggested routine for family times
try to make it the same time each week
spend at least an hour and a half having fun
take turns choosing what activity you do (See worksheet)
have it coincide with a meal
get each family member in turn to choose their favorite menu -when they are old enough, use it as an opportunity to teach them to cook their choice of food
make sure conversation and activities are at the level of the children
if it is a week night, work out when to fit in homework, music practice, etc. (before or after depending on the age of the children)
turn off the TV, or limit it to one program or DVD that you can watch together
children learn about good and bad behavior from their family
they learn values such as:
thinking about others
taking responsibility
helping around the house
How can you plan a focused time of play with your child(ren) this week? Spend some time thinking about your moral compass – where does it point? Why?
