At least once a month, we try to squeeze in a family day. Sometimes we do something simple like play Pokemon Go, and sometimes we do something more elaborate like visit a waterpark.
Family time is always important. However, with an abundance of technology and the oh so busy schedules (i.e. marching band and therapy and orthodontist appointments and the list goes on), having a family day is more important than ever!
Unfortunately, we sometimes have high hopes for family day, and our expectations often lead to making the day a total flop.
So if you are looking for tips to help you have the best family day ever, look no further! These tips are going to help make sure your next family day is an absolute blast!
Get Input
Family day is obviously something that you want the entire family to enjoy. Make sure to get input from the fam about what they think would be fun.
Try to incorporate everyone else’s ideas as much as you can, to make sure that no one feels left out. But if you have a large family like mine, it might be better to allow each child to plan a specific portion of the family day. For instance, one child chooses the breakfast menu while another plans the activity and another chooses the music in the car.
Don’t let rain spoil your family day! Check out these 101 Fun Things to Do on a Rainy Day.
Ditch the Phones
I think it’s safe to say that most would agree the number one killer of family time is cell phones… unless you are geocaching or playing Pokemon Go.
They serve their purpose well, but there are plenty of times they are more of a distraction than anything.
When you are looking for quality time, grab a basket and place everyone’s cell phone inside. No exceptions! So make sure to have your plans laid out with directions written down (if necessary) before chunking your phone in the basket. Be ready to direct your full attention to your loving family.
Need more face to face time with your children? Read these great tips for one on one time with each child.
Don’t Force Anything
There’s something about seeing another family’s photos of their amazing time spent together. It makes you want the same for your family. This makes it easy to set your expectations too high, as you try to focus on forcing the fun.
Fun is something that cannot be forced!
Stop worrying about making your family day picture perfect. As long as everyone is having fun, you are going to achieve your goal of pure happiness.
Be Ready to Improvise
Another damper to family day is when things just don’t go as planned.
Perhaps the baby is extra fussy. Maybe the weather is throwing your plans askew. Or it may just be one of those days where no one is feeling up to much.
Regardless of the reason, be willing to improvise your plans to suit the needs of everyone.
Don’t Over Do It
There is only so much time in one day. So if you overbook yourselves, there’s a good chance that your day will not be as enjoyable as you would have hoped.
Really plan out your day and provide realistic time frames for what you hope to accomplish. If you try to squeeze everything into one day, chances are that the whole family will end up feeling grumpy, sad, and frazzled after a very rushed day.
Take your time and enjoy just a few smaller activities, rather than having to cut them short to fit more in. If there is an activity that you don’t get to, just save it for the next family day!
Last Thoughts…
Family days are about strengthening your bond as a family. They are a time to laugh, share, and have fun. If your family day doesn’t go quite as you had hoped, don’t fret. Try again next time with these amazing tips. Before you know it the whole family will be itching for more quality time together!
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