Sunday, July 7, 2024

Summer gifts us more sunlight, more margin, and more opportunities to have more FUN as a family! Want to know one of the most effective ways to stay connected to your kid? Have fun together.  

God has given you not just a child to raise but another human being to enjoy, get to know, learn from and best of all – love.  

We want to help get your creative juices flowing so we’ve come up with a few hangout ideas. Spending time together as a family is fantastic. However, every now and then nothing is better than having mom or dad’s undivided attention. Consider if you need to plan some whole-family, or one-on-one, time with your child.  

 Well, what are you waiting for? Go have fun! 

Toddlers 

• Dance in the living room to music together. 
• Go outside and explore. 
• Draw with sidewalk chalk. 
• Blow bubbles. 
• Cuddle up and read books and look at pictures together. 

Preschool 

• Go to a park or playground and play hide-n-seek. 
  
• Go get ice cream or make sundaes at home. (Don’t forget the sprinkles!) 
• Have a “fancy” dinner or tea party. 
• Go to your local airport and watch airplanes take off and land. 
• Make a fort in the living room with cushions and blankets and “camp out.” If it’s a warm night, go in the backyard. 

Elementary 

• Let your child pick out a couple of new board games and have a game night. 
  
• Ride bikes together. (And if you’re not chicken, try to skateboard.) 
• Try doing an art project or craft together. 
• Make dinner together. 
• Have a good old fashion pillow fight! 

Middle School  

• Watch YouTube together (Good Mythical Morning, See Ya Reel Soon, and StampyLongNose are highly recommended.) 
  
• Curl up in the bed and read together. 
• Let your child teach you how to play his favorite video game. 
• Go to a concert and jam out together. (Or scream your head off if you have a girl.) 
• Move the furniture and challenge your kid to a wrestling match. 

High School  

• Walk around the mall and window shop, or set a budget your kid can spend on something “just because.” 
  
• Go out to eat at your kid’s favorite restaurant. 
• Get your nails done and go to Starbucks. (Hey dad, you’re missing out if you’ve never had a pedicure.) 
• Throw the football, baseball, or try some ultimate Frisbee. 
• Put on your team’s colors, and go to a high school, college, or pro game. 

By Autumn Ward from Parent Cue; with adaptations.