Time Together

Doing things together builds strong family ties. Talk to your children about the relationships you hope they build with each other. Teach them that they can and should be each others best friends. Look at the activities everyone is involved in and decide if they are the best use of time, or if limiting those outside activities would open up time to be together as a family.

Quotes:

Dallin H. Oaks: “Family experts have warned against what they call ‘the over-scheduling of children’… Among many measures of this disturbing trend are the reports that structured sports time has doubled, but children’s free time has declined by 12 hours per week and unstructured outdoor activities have fallen by 50 percent. The number of those who reported that their ‘whole family usually eats dinner together’ has declined 33 percent… There is inspired wisdom in this advice to parents: what your children really want for dinner is you.”

Parents interested in helping their children become flexible and curious should spend quality playtime with them and model good sportsmanship, kindness, and fair play. Time spent playing with children also helps them become more secure and independent. 

Family recreation can create a positive home environment where adolescents feel comfortable discussing conflicts and personal issues. Family recreation can also promote healthy identity development.

Wholesome recreation often should include service, learning or volunteering opportunities, like tutoring peers, cleaning up the local environment, and helping the elderly. 

Pool Time Video

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