Imagine this scene - it is a Sunday morning and you have time to catch up on an extra hour or two of sleep. Slowly, you get up, get ready for the day and have breakfast at a leisurely pace. Your parents plan to take your brother and you to the local nursery and eventually have a delicious lunch together. Does it evoke nostalgia?
The reason that you remember the memory after several years is because it involved fun and happiness with your family, it reminded you of the bond with your siblings and parents and the wonderful shared experiences with them. You may have thought about doing this with your significant other and children, as well. Well, here are 10 exciting activities to strengthen family bonds this weekend:
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Family day out:
Most of your cherished memories would consist of time spent outdoors and there is a reason why that happens. Going outside not only boosts the mood but also makes us feel in awe of nature and gives us the space to be very active. All these contribute towards making you happy, which translates to wonderful memories that you will cherish for life.
Take your family for an idyllic picnic, away from the noise of the city. You can go camping or take them for boating and rafting. Another good option would be the zoo, where the children can have a lot of fun observing the wildlife.
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Create unique family traditions:
Remember those family songs in movies where all members get into a song-and-dance routine? They had a specific family song that was unique to them. Similarly, have your own set of family traditions - such as going out for dinner on specific occasions, having a mini-celebration when there are reasons to celebrate (like a promotion or your child securing good marks in an exam), packing surprise packages for the underprivileged during festivals and so on.
These traditions serve the purpose of uniting the entire family under one roof and aid in building strong bonds between the members. They also infuse optimism and hope. Plus, there are endless possibilities of traditions that can be created. What else do you need to adopt this activity?
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Game night fun:
Bring those board games back from hiding for they can be of great help in engaging and entertaining the family, bringing everyone together. You can choose indoor games like snake and ladders or ludo or go for outdoor games like tennis or badminton. Split into two teams and play in the park nearby or even in your backyard.
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Blockbuster night:
Probably the easiest and best idea to implement would be that of a movie night. All you need is a good movie, a couple of tubs of ice cream and a big bucket of popcorn. Switch on the light, play the movie and have fun with your family. A bonus tip would be to put on a comedy or a feel-good movie, as these genres tend to make your viewing experience memorable.
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Bake and bond:
A good way to bond with the family would be to bake (or cook) in the kitchen. It is an excellent activity that illustrates the importance of teamwork as each person would have a specific role to fulfil. Children love the end products, hence they would be interested in helping their parents out. Cooking can also be an interesting hobby that helps save money.
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Snapshots of nostalgia:
Make a cozy arrangement with blankets and pillows and get everyone seated in a circle. You can get those old photo albums out and sift through them, one by one. Each picture will have stories and memories attached to it. Narrate these tales to your children and enthral them. The good part is that you get to relive the olden days. Nothing like a sweet dose of nostalgia, right?
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Together we serve:
There is no act better than the act of kindness. The warmth you get from it is inexplicable and makes the heart feel full, brimming with happiness. Hence, what can be a better way to bond with family than volunteering together?
You can chalk a plan to deliver food to the underprivileged people near your home or donate books to poor children. Taking your family along will help you appreciate what you have, even more. Children will learn about an entirely new perspective of life and will learn to be more loving and compassionate.
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Chores made fun:
Chores don’t sound fun at all is the first thought that would have crossed your mind. They can be an excellent team-building activity if done right. Divide the family into teams and allot specific household chores to all the groups. Have a tempting reward at the end to motivate everyone. Turn on that sound system and play some peppy music. This will make the entire process more fun. It will turn out to be a memory that you will hold close and eventually, a family tradition.
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Family tree adventure:
If there is one activity that is sure to bring your family closer, it has to be this one. A family tree is very special in the sense that it is unique to your family and only yours. To make it, you will need to discuss generations of family members with each other, which will make everyone feel a heightened sense of belonging, giving them happiness. Another advantage is that it will involve a lot of cutting and drawing, hence kids will enjoy and savour the process.
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Plan your next trip:
London? Paris? Create a poll and get the choices of all family members (including you, of course) and create a bucket list of places to visit in the next few years. Ensure that no one feels left out. Among the options, choose a destination and plan for the upcoming trip!
We all have busy lives, running behind work, school and whatnot. However, let us also take a moment to remember that nothing is more important than your family. It becomes your lifeline and your biggest strength. The biggest gift you can give them is your time. Go ahead and make the best out of your time with them. What are you waiting for?
