Take Back Your Family in 2015

Whether you realize it or not, there is a competition for your family.  The world is trying to drive a wedge into the family unit and cause strife among members.

Activities, media, technology, social calendars, and just plain busyness threaten to disintegrate the family unit and immobilize its strength.

Do you ever feel as though you are at war; clamoring for the attention and hearts of those you love most?

It’s time to fight back and parents, it’s time to take back your family.  It’s time to not settle for crumbs of family time, but to adjust priorities and make a few changes.  May 2015 be the year you reignite the flame of the family bond!

 

While the needs of each family is different, may these ideas for how to take back your family inspire you to find ways to connect and be creative with carving out time for each other.

1. Create a phone basket/technology basket: Make certain hours of the day phone and technology free, even for parents, and place all devices in the basket to promote family conversation.  Once the scheduled time is over, all devices can be returned, but the conversation doesn’t have to stop there.

2. Use conversation cards: Sometimes conversation with those you see everyday can get a little stale, especially if you don’t talk much already.  Family conversation cards are perfect for dinners together to spark conversation and get the sharing started. Visit Beauty & Bedlam for a FREE printable of conversation starters and use them at dinner tonight.

3. Schedule family time:  As life spins more and more out of control, time to spend with family seems to dwindle. Look at everyone’s schedules {or even create a calendar system for the whole family} and then first plan out the time you will spend together before scheduling other activities.  Let nothing short of a true emergency interrupt that precious time!

4. Use activity jars:  When a case of boredom hits, activity jars are a perfect cure!  Have one jar filled with silly and creative activities to do at home, and the other jar for family fun time outside the home.  Ideas for family fun will be easily at your fingertips and the kids will enjoy choosing an activity to do together.

 

5. Plan random acts of kindness:  It’s always fun to give, but when you do acts of kindness together as a family, it makes those deeds more special.

An easy activity to do with family members of any age is to create a Blessing Bag for those less fortunate.  For more details on how to create the bags, check out Give the Gift of Hope.

Blessing Bag Picture Faith Along the Way

6. Leave each other love notes:  It’s heart-warming to know that someone in your family loves you and appreciates you. Be creative about the notes you leave and write them often!

7. Start a family devotional: One of the sweetest times in our day is when we read to our children from the Bible and teach them how to pray.  No matter how old your children are, it’s never too late to start sharing God’s Word and praying together. Having God as the cornerstone for your family will give you a firm foundation when trials come, and will teach your children that you as parents value a relationship with the Lord.

8. Have a regular family game night: Games unite people through laughter and friendly competition.  Keep a running score tab to encourage repeat game nights and even throw in a trophy for the winner. Great game and activity ideas can be found here. 

9. Take a family mission trip: While this may be better suited for an older children, it’s a breath of fresh air for a family to serve together and get outside of their comfort zone.  A family mission trip is designed to bring families closer together while encouraging spiritual growth. It’s a great way for children to learn about the realities of life, too.

10. Eat dinner together: While it’s probably not feasible for the modern family to eat dinner together every night, schedule a few nights a week that are sacred to family meal time and enjoy each other’s company!

11. Pray Scripture over your family:  I have a favorite verse for each member of my family, and I know that laying my loved ones at the feet of the Lord is the best way to unite my family.

12. Limit extra curricular activities:  While sports and hobbies are important and most certainly have their place, is it worth it to lose your family?  Do you want your children to spend every night of the week at practices and games, without quality family time?  Encourage your children to choose their favorite activity and keep the family unit united.

13. Re-prioritize: Call a family meeting and remind children of the need for family unity and time to be together.  Find ways to re-prioritize as a family and focus on what’s important; each other.

14. Do a service project together: It’s so fun to give back, but it’s especially fun when you do it with your family.  It’s a great example for children to see parents rolling up sleeves and pitching in.

15. Take a trip in the car: Nothing forces family togetherness like a road trip! It’s a great way to escape it all and reunite with each other.

May you fight for your family and guard the precious moments of togetherness time this year.  May you realize that life is fleeting and you only have so many hours to impact your children before they are grown.

How do you spend quality time with your family? What tips do you have for protecting family time?

 

 

16 Comments

  1. We need for more quality family time. We did the jars but I really like the no technology basket idea … I am so doing that! Thanks for the great ideas! I will be sharing this awesome post 🙂

  2. This is a resource of great ideas. Thank you so much for this. I will be coming back. Great stuff.

  3. I love the idea of specific tech-free times. That’s definitely an area my family needs to improve in and that would be a great way to do it. #SITSBlogging

    1. Tech-free time is SO important and I am making more of an effort this year.

  4. These are wonderful ideas Sarah Ann! The hubby and I really need to make a phone basket! That will really help us unplug and spend more focused time with the kids and eachother. Pinning this!

    1. Thanks so much for pinning! It’s amazing how quickly time can be eaten up by social media!

  5. Excellent tips! Our family are talkers and so starting conversations is never a problem for us. Our biggest challenge is in finding time when the family is all together … with evening classes, jobs and activities we seem to have people on the go most of the time.

    1. I feel that with each passing year it’s hard to plan those precious minutes with our family. We are all so busy! Blessings to you as you try to carve out minutes of family fun!

  6. A great list of ideas – thanks for this, and you’re so right, we have to fight for our families!
    Thank you!
    Helen

    1. Yes, we do have to fight for our families! Many blessings to you!

  7. We actually got rid of our TV altogether – not for this reason, but we found that improved family time was an unexpected side effect! Of course we still watch a movie or show on Netflix from time to time, but we found out that most shows hint things we don’t really want to teach our kids, anyway (i.e: siblings don’t get along, dads are big doorknobs, etc.)

    1. Good for you, Jenny! That has to be so freeing! Enjoy those extra family minutes!

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