6 Ways to Play with Your Family

by Jill Greenlaw View Bio

Jill Greenlaw

Jill Greenlaw has a banking background. She gave that up when she got married and started having kids. Jill now works for the Mom It Forward team as an editorial and sales manager. Her interests include camping, motorcycling, boating, photography, reading, cooking, and traveling. Put her in flip flops anywhere warm and she is happy. Connect with Mom It Forward at momitforward.com or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

They say that “a family that plays together stays together.” To help you and your family strengthen ties through play, Jill Greenlaw, editorial manager at Mom It Forward, offers up six different ways to connect with your kids in fun new ways.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “a family that plays together stays together”? What’s the correlation between playing and creating lasting relationships? I know for my family, we always feel closer to one another when we’re having fun and connecting.

Here are 6 ways to play with your family and connect in fun new ways:

1. Find a way to laugh. When we laugh, we decompress. When was the last time you belly laughed? Research shows that people who laugh live longer. If you and your family are doing activities that make you laugh, it’ll not only help you release some of your stress, but also help you connect with your family in a fun and playful way. I don’t know about you, but I like to be around people that make me happy and laugh. Why not create situations where your family can laugh until your stomachs hurt! 
   
   
2. Keep it simple. Spending time together as a family and playing doesn’t have to be during a huge trip or getaway. Some of our favorite times as a family are when we decide to go on a bike ride on a Saturday morning. We venture out on the trail by our house and take turns being the leader. I love the conversations that happen when we’re together — they happen naturally and don’t feel forced. We used to own a boat and I loved spending the day on the lake. We all supported each other when we tried to slalom or wake board. These memories of playing together are ones I will cherish for years to come!

“There are times when you and your family need to turn off the TV, look away from your phones and tablets, and connect.”

3. Meet everyone’s needs. If you have several children, you know that it isn’t always easy to make everyone happy. Set up a family meeting and have everyone share their ideas for a perfect family activity. Support each other in their interests. If everyone goes into the activity with a positive attitude and playful heart, you might be surprised how much you actually enjoy it as well! My boys love to hit balls at the driving range, but I have to admit, I’m not a golfer. We decided to go together as a family and hit balls one night. I loved watching my kids take turns trying to hit their ball the furthest. After they were done, we all played around the putting green and had fun making up games that we could play together. It was actually more fun than I thought it would be! 
   
   
4. Be spontaneous. I’m a creature of habit, but I didn’t always use to be that way. I used to go on last-minute trips and live more spontaneous. But for some reason when I started having kids, I lost a little bit of my adventurous side. This week, my family and I decided to take a trip to California. We really only have a few things planned — we’re making sure to leave time to let the unexpected happen, so we can tap into our spontaneous sides and create fun, unexpected memories together. 
   
   
5. Unplug and connect. There are times when you and your family need to turn off the TV, look away from your phones and tablets, and connect. It’s really easy to be in your own world when you’re engaged on social media. The other night, I looked up from my computer and noticed my whole family was sitting in the same room, but no one was talking to each other. We were all on our own devices and doing our own thing. When I was growing up, we didn’t have cable or video games — we connected as a family by playing board games! When you’re playing games, you have to connect and talk. Not only that, but most likely you’re laughing and talking at the same time. Bonus! 
   
   
6. Take a snapshot. Everyone likes to see a good picture of themselves. One of our family’s favorite things to do is to take jumping pictures.  When we were in Florida last year on the beach, we all took pictures jumping with the ocean in the background. We loved seeing who could strike the funniest pose in the air and get the most height. It didn’t surprise me when we were hiking a few months ago in southern Utah that my kids started jumping off rocks and taking pictures. Before I knew it, we all got into it! Who knew that jumping for a picture could be so much fun and a great way to bond with your kids?

What ways are you and your family playing together?

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• Jill’s Family Filled Fun Ideas

  • Don’t stress! There’s no need to plan a big getaway to spend time with your family.  Be spontaneous and go for a bike ride or have a beach day.
  • Leave the technology behind! Instead of separately playing games on a tablet or phone, have family board game night.
  • It’s hard to please everyone all the time.  As a family, make a list of all the activities you want to do together.  Let each kid contribute their idea to the list.
  • Have fun! One of the best ways to decrease stress and bond is just by laughing.  Watch a funny movie or play a silly game of charades.