BONDING WITH EXPERIENCE
“Experiencing Everything Together”
As a family, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind of living and plodding through our days with an unwavering focus on daily tasks, taking care of our usual duties, and focusing on the interactions that ensure we keep our proverbial ship afloat.
Being able to pull ourselves out of this grind and becoming purposeful in our interactions can be especially difficult but extremely invaluable to those we are closest to. Sharing experiences together is one of the most valuable forms of bonding that a family can commit to, and sometimes it’s not enough to rely on the tried and true.
Why is this so important? Well, for kids, spending quality time with family helps them develop positive behaviors, avoid trouble, and build self-esteem. For all of us, time with family helps us stay connected to our roots and gives us a chance to communicate and have fun together.
The fast pace of modern day family life can make it easy to forget that simply just spending time with our children is really important. Our time is one of the greatest things we can give them. Summer time offers lots of opportunities to spend time together and some good old family bonding!
Here’s why you should make quality time a priority:
It builds children’s self-esteem
Children who spend time with their parents participating in activities together build a positive sense of self-worth. When children feel that they are valued by their parents, they feel more positive about themselves. Family activities don’t have to be expensive trips out to be meaningful, the important part is just being together.
It strengthens family bonds
Families who share everyday activities together form strong, emotional ties. Studies have found that families who enjoy group activities together share a stronger emotional bond as well as an ability to adapt well to situations as a family.
It develops positive behaviors
Children and adolescents who spend more time with their parents are less likely to get involved in risky behavior. Children who frequently eat with their families also usually have improved dietary intake compared to those who don’t eat as often with family members.
It encourages communication
When you spend time with your children you are fostering an environment for open communication. Good communication is important for your children to feel comfortable with talking to about anything. Simply asking your child how their day ask gone can make a big difference.
It can help your child’s academic performance
Spending time helping your children with schoolwork or reading together, especially in their early years, will foster an environment that values academics. If your child feels comfortable coming to you with schoolwork, they are more likely to perform better academically.
It can help your children be a good friend
Children learn by example. If you are setting a good example for them by spending quality time together, they are more likely to adopt those behaviors in other relationships in their lives. Simple things like playing games together will help them understand more about interacting with others as well as teach them things like sharing and kindness.
Improves Mental Health
When we spend time with family—especially face-to-face communication, as opposed to digital—it significantly reduces the occurrence of depression, anxiety, and other mental illness. Being physically present with loved ones creates a strong emotional support to buoy you up through life’s challenges.
Boosts Self-Confidence
Spending time with family builds confidence for all of its members. Parents can teach children to build self-esteem through specific skills such as problem solving and communication. They can also model the ability to love oneself without degrading others. For parents and children, confidence grows simply with the knowledge that they are valued and appreciated by their loved ones.
Helps Kids Learn Future Parenting Skills
The memories you create together will instill in children a desire to foster that same loving atmosphere in their own future homes. Family is so important because, through your example, your kids learn important caregiving skills that they can use one day. They may even practice now by copying your behaviors when they interact with siblings.
Teaches Effective Conflict Resolution
When we spend time with family it is fun, but it can be difficult, too. When conflicts arise, you can’t just walk away for good. You’re in this together, so you have to work together to solve the issues that come up. Spending time with family teaches interpersonal communication skills including healthy, constructive ways to discuss, debate, and solve problems.
Promotes Adaptability And Resilience
Your ability to face life’s changes and challenges is greatly improved by a strong family bond. Being with family gives you the feeling of knowing that you belong, you are cared for, and you are needed, which gives a sense of meaning and purpose. This assurance gives motivation to push forward, grow, and succeed.
Enhances Physical Health
With the right kind of activities, spending time with family can positively impact physical well-being. For instance, families who eat home-cooked meals together tend to have a better diet than those who don’t. Participating in outdoor activities like sports games, hikes, or gardening together helps to improve fitness. There’s even evidence that time with family can boost the effects of exercise and other healthy habits. It improves heart, brain, hormonal, and immune health. Being with family can also encourage one another to maintain healthy lifestyles.
Lengthens Life Expectancy
Healthy relationships could increase your lifespan up to 50%. Combine all the physical and mental health benefits discussed above, and you can see why family time has been linked to living a longer, healthier, happier life. Even those with unhealthy physical habits, but a strong social network live longer than those without these relationships.
Make Spending Time with Family a Priority- Adventure Farm can HELP!!
Spend time with family. With all these incredible benefits of a supportive social network, you can see why spending time with family is important. While it’s fun to invite friends and family to spend quality time together, it’s also a significant aspect of your physical health and mental well-being. Put down the phone, gather together, and create some fun, meaningful memories. Making time to connect with family requires a bit of planning—sometimes a bit of money—but the investment is well worth it for the outcomes of healthy individuals and strong family bonds. You’ve still got a little bit of time left before the children go back to school so make the most of it this weekend and do something together.
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