Hanging out as a family, without forcing an activity – or feeling under pressure to ‘do something’, is one of the best ways to get to know each other properly.
Eating meals together is great for routine, and going for walks together can be fun and healthy... but it is spending time together that is most important. So our suggestion is to make time for doing nothing.
If weekday mornings can be hectic - getting the kids to nursery or school, dragging yourself to work – then treat yourself and your family to a lazy day at the weekend. If necessary schedule this. Doing nothing, just relaxing and being with one another is enough.
A lazy day should be just that – if no-one gets dressed until midday, then so be it! If you get a chance to read the Sunday Papers while the kids play with their cars or dolls, then this is a win-win for all involved. You can, of course, play together – or chat, or even watch a bit of telly. The trick is just to do what you want and to let everyone else do what they want. Just spending time together allows you to get to know each other – and be completely relaxed in each other’s company.
If you don’t get much of a chance to spend time with your children – maybe because of work, or you are separated – then it can be easy to fall into the trap of thinking ‘quality time’ has to involve some sort of planned activity. It doesn’t. Just hanging out is as important as other more structured activities.
