The holiday season offers lots of opportunities for quality family time. But you can bond with your loved ones all year round with some thoughtful planning. Below are some ideas to strengthen family ties during the holidays and everyday life.
Start New Traditions
Traditions give families shared experiences to look forward to year after year. Talk to your family about new rituals you could begin this holiday season, like volunteering together, baking cookie recipes passed down from grandparents, or playing board games after holiday meals.
Schedule Quality Time
It can be hard to connect during busy seasons. Make family time non-negotiable by scheduling it into your calendars, whether it’s a weekly family dinner or monthly cousins sleepover. Protect this time by saying no to other commitments.
Create Something Together
Collaborative projects allow family members to express creativity and problem-solve together. Try DIY gift ideas like decorating picture frames or making candles. Cook a new complicated recipe for a holiday meal. Paint a wall mural in your living room.
Get Active Outdoors
Physical activities are great bonding experiences. Go sledding, build a snowman, hike to look at holiday lights, or have a family hockey game. In warmer months, go camping, tackle a ropes course, or join a charity walk.
Hit the Road
Exploring new places makes memories. Load up the car for a holiday light display tour, take a weekend cabin getaway, or go sightseeing in a nearby city. You can plan bigger trips like cruises and destination reunions too.
Capture Moments
Looking back on photos reinforces family bonds. Take candid shots during your time together. At the end of a gathering, do a group photo. Create photo books or digital albums to share. Make displays with favorite pictures.
Share Family History
Strengthening connections across generations is powerful. Ask grandparents or older relatives to tell stories about holidays past. Look through old albums and videos together. Research your ancestry online or visit places where your family originally came from.
Relax and Recharge
Take time for down time matters too. Do yoga stretches together before holiday meals. Put on a fireplace movie marathon. Spend an evening working on puzzles or playing board games. Just hang out and chat while drinking hot chocolate.
Making family time a priority has huge payoffs in terms of relationships and memories. Use these suggestions to bond with your nearest and dearest this holiday season, and keep them going all year long.
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