The need for building strong family bonds can never be overemphasized. These days, life is so busy that many parents barely get time for their children. Some leave home before the kids wake up and return late at night when they are already asleep.
Over time, this lack of connection can make children drift away and turn to friends for advice and support which sometimes may not give the best advice.
The truth is, one of the greatest gifts you can give your children is your time. The memories you create with them now will be what they will carry with them as they grow older and face the world. That is why it is important to be intentional about creating those special moments now they are still under your care.
When families are closely connected, children feel loved, safe and supported. Strong family bonds encourage good behavior. It help kids perform better in school. It also give them the confidence to express their feelings without fear of parents judging them. Also a child who grows up in such an environment learns to live by family values and naturally spreads love wherever they go.
In this post, I will be sharing some simple 7 habits you can start today to build stronger family bonds at home. Try them out, and you will be amazed at how much closer, happier, and more united your family will become.
Spending Quality Time Together
Spending quality time together does not only build and strengthen family bonds. It also gives a sense of belonging and security to everyone in the family. It is not just about being present, you can be bodily present when you are not actually there.
This is because you all can be in the same room but everyone will be glued to their phone or even the television. At this point no bonding is taking place as everyone is just bodily present with their souls apart.
Building strong family bonds through quality time together is about giving your all so that everyone will feel loved and important.
It is also about creating memories that will carry your children to adulthood. Because at the end of the day, they may not remember the toys and gadgets you bought for them. They will always remember how you made them feel.
Here are some simple ways families can spend meaningful time together:
1. Create a family meal time where everyone will eat together, share stories and over the dinning as they eat.
2. Set aside a daily or weekly time to read stories, tell family tales or enjoy movies together.
3. Plan outings, weekend getaways or vacations to explore new places and strengthen your bonds.
Communicate Openly And Honestly
One of the strongest foundations of building strong family bonds is open and honest communication. This is more than just talking.
It is about truly listening, understanding and creating a safe space where everyone feels comfortable to share their thoughts.
When children know they can talk to their parents without fear of being judged, they feel safe, loved and respected. This does not only builds their trust but it also boosts their confidence.
As a parent, make it a habit to encourage your kids to confide in you. Do not dismiss or push them away when they want to talk to you, no matter how small their concerns may seem.
Children who feel heard and guided by their parents are more likely to stay open and honest. They know they will be corrected with love and not criticism.
It is also important to model open communication yourself as parent, be truthful with your kids, avoid saying one thing and doing another.
When children discover that their parents have been dishonest to them, it can break their trust. It can also make them to become secretive. Honesty, respect, and consistency from you will encourage them to do the same.
Create A Family Value Board
A family value board could be a whiteboard, chalkboard, or even a large piece of cardboard where the family can display the values that matter most to them.
Every family has certain values which they hold very dear, it could kindness, honesty, teamwork, love or respect. But sometimes, in the rush of everyday life, those values can get lost in the background.
Therefore it is very important to create the family value board to act as a reminder of who you are as a family and what you stand for.
Family value boards can be created in a fun way. You can gather the members of the family to discuss these values and what is expected from them as members of the family.
As the discussion is going on, you can ask any of your children who can write to write the values down. This is a way of allowing the children to partake in the decision making in the family.
Discuss and write them down. You can also print it in bold letters and place it in a corner where everybody in the family can easily see and read it.
It will serve as a daily reminder for every member of the family. It is also during family time, that family values can always be referred to, so that it will always remain fresh in everyone’s memory.
Create Time For Family Meetings
Family meetings is where every member of the family checks on each other to know how things are going with them. It is in the family meeting that everyone is able to air their grievances, vulnerability and also share their little wins.
It gives families the time to discuss any pressing needs. It is a time to correct any family member who is not living within the family values. Family meetings also give room for families to plan and discuss their future. They also discuss things like next vacation, anniversary or upcoming birthdays.
Family can hold meetings once a week or even once in a month. It doesn’t have to be too long, just few minutes of sitting together, talking and listening to each other and also giving solutions to any issue the family raises.
This helps to foster unity in the family and also helps to build strong family bonds. Over time, it will become something the family (especially the children) look forward to.
Support Each Other’s Interest and Goal
A family is made up of unique individuals with their own dreams, hobbies and passions. Supporting each other’s interest and goal is one of the most beautiful ways of building strong family bonds.
Supporting each other doesn’t always mean you have to share the same interest. You don’t have to love football to cheer up your child who loves football.
Do not push your children into doing things because you want them to. You should encourage them by giving them a listening ear and also believe in their abilities. This shows the children that you care about what matters to them.
When families support each other’s goals, whether big or small, they create an environment where everyone feels safe to dream, try and even fail without fear.
Supporting each other’s interest teaches children the importance of standing by the people they love no matter the circumstance.
Do Chores And Tasks Together
Though doing chores may not be the most exciting part of family life but when family does them together, they can foster unity and create an everlasting memory.
Chores like folding laundry, cooking and tidying up the living room together can easily turn into moments of laughter, storytelling, and connection.
Doing tasks together as a family is also an opportunity to teach children responsibility and teamwork. It help children to understand that keeping the home clean is for everyone and not just one person’s job.
When family does tasks and chores together, it makes children understand that they are important contributors of the family, not just observers. These give them sense of pride and belonging. It also give parents joy to see their children grow more capable and confident.
Always Celebrate each other
You should not limit celebrations to birthdays or big milestones, rather it should be an everyday moment especially for the kids.
You can celebrate your children over their little wins, it doesn’t always require balloons and parties. You can cheer and applaud your children when they fix a puzzle they have been working on for days. Cheer them when they dress the bed or water the garden. Let them know that you recognize their efforts and you are proud of them.
Celebrating each other builds confidence and creates an environment where everyone feels valued and loved. Children thrive very well when their efforts are recognized. They carry those moments in their hearts and are motivated to keep trying, even when things get tough.
You can also read Preschool reading tips for parents.
