5 amazing things to try out for quality family time

Quality family time needs no elaborate planning: a board game night, a family movie, an impromptu picnic or walk, dinner eaten together at one table, and shared art or craft projects. Research links regular family time to better mental health in children and even stronger academic results.

“It is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities,” said L. Tom Perry. In a busy life it sounds like one more piece of advice; one day its truth arrives on its own, and the only question is whether it arrives in time. The good news is that bonding with your family does not need to be a task requiring extensive planning. Five simple things cover most of it.

1. Game time

Probably the most rewarding hour a family spends. Family games like Monopoly, Scrabble and Clue build decision making and problem solving while being, first of all, fun. Board games earn their reputation: the learning hides inside the laughing.

2. Movie nights

A great film watched together turns into great conversation afterwards. Choose a family flick your kids will enjoy, and skip the ones with violence, profanity or themes they are not ready for. The film is the excuse; the sofa full of family is the point.

3. Outings

Time outdoors rejuvenates mind and body, and it need not be planned: an impromptu weekend picnic, the nearby playground, or simply a walk together. Children need to see how much you enjoy spending time with them; that visible enjoyment is what assures them of a healthy family life.

4. Dinner together

Dinner is the built-in daily meeting. Sit down at the same time, ask your child about their day, share stories, and tell yours when something exciting happened. Occasionally plan the meal together with a task for every member, one on salad, one setting the table, and the cooking becomes the activity. The table is also where you get to know your child in ten-minute instalments.

5. Art and crafts

Art heals, and done as a family it releases stress, grows creativity and improves expression. Any shared making counts; the cherished object at the end is really a cherished memory with glue on it.

What does family time actually do?

The research backs the instinct: 73% of Americans rate family time among the most important things in life, studies show people with strong family relationships have better mental and emotional health, and the National Center for Education Statistics finds a positive correlation between family engagement and children’s academic success. Families that share everyday activities regularly form the strongest emotional ties; the group activities are the glue.

Children spell love T-I-M-E, and they can tell the difference between time you gave them and time you had left over.

Dr. V.S. Gayathri is a Certified Dyslexia Therapist, an Orton-Gillingham trained literacy specialist, and the founder of Flourishing Kids. She has delivered over 4,000 hours of one-to-one reading and spelling intervention, helping children across multiple countries build stronger literacy skills. Family time is also where learning wins get celebrated; get in touch for a free 15-minute conversation.