Family fun nights are a great way to spend
quality time with your teen. Whether you’re able to schedule fun night once a
week or once a month, regular family time can be an important ritual in your
teen’s life. The key is to make family fun night a priority and get everyone in
the family involved.
If your teen groans at the idea make it
clear that everyone is going to participate. For one night, don’t answer the
phone, ignore social media, and step away from your electronics.
Make your time together about talking,
laughing, and creating new memories.
Spending quality time together is one of
the secrets to developing a healthy relationship with your teen. Look for
activities that will give you an opportunity to get to one another better so
you can maintain a healthy relationship as your teen grows older. Here are
five family fun night ideas that can get you started:
1.
Cook a Special Meal Together as a Family
There are lots of ways to turn a meal into
family fun night. One way is to choose a menu as a family. Shop for the grocery
items on the menu together and then prepare and cook the meal as a family. Get
adventurous with your meal choices or choose cuisine from different parts of
the world to really make it interesting.
Another way to get everyone involved is to
have each person be in charge of a certain course. One person can choose and
prepare a salad, while other people take charge of an appetizer, main course,
side dish or dessert.
Then, eat together as a family!
2.
Hold a Movie Night
Although it can be great to turn off your
technology on family fun night, make an exception for movie night. Take turns
choosing the movies and preparing the snacks. Talk to your teen after
the movie about what he liked or didn’t like about it. Start a conversation
that will help you get a better understanding of your teen’s point of view.
3.
Have a Family Board Game Night
Teens are used to fast-paced video games.
Slowing down to play board games can show them that they don’t need electronics
to have fun. If your family hasn’t found one particular game that everyone
likes, experiment with different games on board game night. Take turns picking
out a game and make it more about having fun rather than a serious competition.
4.
Play a Sport Together
Doing something active together can be a
good way to bond as a family. Play basketball, soccer, cricket, or simply kick
a ball around the yard. You can even just go for a family stroll around the neighbourhood
or go for a walk in the woods. Getting active is a good way to get some
exercise and it also can get some conversation flowing with your teen.
5.
Take Turns Picking the Activity
Take turns picking what activity you’ll be
doing on family fun night. Maybe one time you’ll choose to go for a family
picnic and another night you'll go camping. Allowing each family member a turn
at choosing the activity is a great way to get everyone involved and excited
about family fun night. If you have big age differences between your children,
it can be good to mix things up so you can find activities that will please
everyone.
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