Strong Families Spend
Time Together
 Spending
time together is an important part of building the strength of
your family. Children and adults feel a sense of belonging when they can
play, work, laugh, and cry together. Family traditions such as holidays,
birthdays, trips, and special family events build memories. Children learn
to bring balance to their lives when they see their parents setting aside
time for what they value. They also learn how much they are valued and
loved when their parents give them what counts most - their time.
SUGGESTED FAMILY ACTIVITIES FOR NOVEMBER:
1. Pick an afternoon or evening, and allow
family members to choose their favorite games. Play as many as you have
time for. Set another date later in the month to play the others.
2. Attend a local Veteran's Day parade. Talk about family members who
served in the military.
3. Assign each family member a duty in preparation for Thanksgiving, such
as sending invitations, planning the menu, setting the table, arranging a
centerpiece, grocery shopping, or food preparation.
4. Plan a day to clean the yard as a family. Give each member an
appropriate task, such as raking leaves, planting bulbs, making repairs,
touching up paint, stacking firewood, or cleaning gutters.
Reprinted with permission from the
National Network for Child Care - NNCC. (1994). Strong families spend time
together. In M. Lopes (Ed.) CareGiver News (November, p.1).
Amherst, MA: University of Massachusetts Cooperative Extension.
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