Invest time and energy in your children, your spouse, and your parents. Here are some easy ways to help you build stronger bonds with your family:
Set aside time for each other every day. Play with your children, spend quality time with your spouse, and honor your parents. Eating family dinners together is a great chance to turn off the TV and chat about everyone’s day over a healthy meal.
Get moving together. After dinner, take a walk or go on a bike ride. If you have younger children, visit your local park or playground. Or play a game of tag, Frisbee, or hide-and-seek in your own backyard.
Share your family history. Children love stories about when their parents were young, like the time Mommy got stuck in the mango tree, or when Daddy woke up at 3:00 a.m. because he couldn’t wait for Christmas morning. Display pictures of family members on a wall in your home so the kids are familiar with extended family members, too.
Involve grandparents in your lives. Grandparents can offer love, support, wisdom, and motivation to help their younger family members succeed. This adds up to healthier, better-adjusted families who live longer.
Create family traditions and memories. Holidays offer a great opportunity to create memorable family traditions that bring your family closer together. When it’s not possible to be together during the holidays, connect by phone.