Ways to Stay Bonded With Your Kids

Xoxo

Start a family ritual each morning by giving each family member a kiss before walking out the door.

 

Car chitchat

Take advantage of all those school and after-school activity runs. Switch off the radio and simply talk and connect.

Fridge friendlies

Post a whiteboard on your fridge or backdoor, and stock it with Post-Its and erasable pens. Use it for a family communication center: "Good luck at your game today, Josh" or "Kerry, let us know how your speech went. We're cheering for you!"

 

Tech timeout

Set aside sacred unplugged time an hour a night or whenever family members are gathered together. Cell phones go off, TV is unplugged and you can be finally focused on one another.

 

Dear Anny...

Start a file of advice columns, like Dear Anny. Find ones that are especially relevant to the ages of you kids (like drinking and driving, cheating on a test, etc.). Then, pull them out, read aloud and ask your children how they'd respond. Just don't tell them the real advice until you hear where your kids are coming from!

 

Laughing matters

Ask your teen to invite a friend or two to show you and the rest of the family how to compete in Just Dance or a Wii Sports competition. They'll appreciate the fact that you've welcomed their friends into what's sure to be an experience that gives lots of laughs, both at you and with you.

 

Start a tradition

Schedule regular family-time. Whether it's dinner out at your favorite restaurant, or a family flag football game, it'll give you and your loved ones something to look forward to each week.

 

Teamwork

Use big chores like cleaning out the garage or repainting a room to get the whole family involved. It makes less work for you and teaches the kids a thing or two

 

Turn on the TV

Pick a program to watch as a family each week, whether it be a cooking show or a sitcom. Don't hesitate to DVR so that the the ritual fits your schedule.

 

Quotes to live by

Pick a new quote each day and share it with your kids to see what they think about it — sometimes kids understand life’s universal truths better than adults.

Multitasking

Even if you're working on a report for work and the kids are busy with their homework, as long as you all are in the same room together, you'll feel that undeniable sense of family connection.

 

Social media guru

If you have kids away at camp, boarding school, or college, Facebook and Twitter are great tools to stay connected all the time without being that mom who calls every Single Day.

Be a traditionalist

If you have the time, traditional nightly family sit-down dinners are helpful for keeping up with what's going on in your husband's and children's lives.

Let's make a date

If you have more than one child, consider scheduling regular one-on-one time with each. Try to cater to each child's unique interests rather than doing the same thing on your special date.

Librarian for a day

Read aloud to your children, whether it's after school or at bedtime. Not only will you be spending quality time together, but you'll also help increase your child's literacy. Bonus points!

 

Peaks and pits

Take a cue from the Kardashians and have everyone discuss the "peak" and "pit" of their day at dinnertime. The famous family was on to something when they started the trend on their reality show  you'll get a more detailed answer rather than the much-dreaded "fine" response that greets asking how everyone's day went.

 

Give back

Volunteer as a family to help a charity or take a Saturday morning to work at the food pantry. You'll serve someone in-need while spending time together.

 

Master chef

Cook together! Not only is it a great time to hang out, but when your child helps to prepare meals, he or she will become more open to trying new foods. That's a win-win in our book.

Read all about it

Skip hours of reading boring history books and get Audacese instead. This tablet tool, which features animated storybooks such as David & Goliath, helps foster a culture of learning.

 

Eggs, bread, milk

Have your children add to or help you make up the grocery list. Not only will they be happier at meal-time, but it makes a good opportunity to teach some nutrition basics.

 

Pillow talk

Reserve bedtime for talking about your day, but give that time a name such as "chitchats" or "bedtime babble." It's a great opportunity to learn what is going on in your child's life, or for him to explain a problem and ask for your help.

 

The most important meal of the day

Serve breakfast for dinner every so often. What kid (or adult!) doesn't like pancakes and waffles?

 

You're a grand old flag!

Make a family flag. Get a piece of cloth and a bunch of permanent markers. Add each person's name, a family motto and draw pictures. Make it yours and let it fly!

 

Family night in

Remember that you don't always have to be doing something with your kids. Just being home all at the same time is often enough.