I remember growing up and playing board games with our family. I had an older brother and younger sister. Of course, most games would end up in a terrible fight where one or both siblings shouted “unfair” and stormed away in a huff, leaving the rest of us to find the scattered game pieces. Some games lasted much longer than others, but the best memories were when a parent/grandparent/family member joined in. It made us kids feel special, like we mattered, and could handle grownup rules.
With the current time crunch of school, sports, and other activities for kids, and the decrease in time from work of parents, it seems that family fun time has decreased as well. This occurs often, and the demand to complete home work, household chores, and outside activities competes. Kids seem to prefer screen time over playing with family.
Family fun can be most anything, as long as it’s together and somewhat interactive. Sharing hobbies, games, sports, and music helps to bond relationships with siblings and parents.
In her article in Child Psychology, 2012, Gail Fernandez, MD reports on the importance of interactive family activities and the positive psychological effects on all family members. “Interactive time is that spent with both child and parent fully engaged in an activity together.”
Dr. Fernandez notes the importance of this time is multifold:
1. The child feels important and loved.
2. He or she has an opportunity to model parent’s behavior.
3. The parent can observe and learn about the child’s strengths and weaknesses in order to better guide them.
4. The child has a chance to voice their thoughts and feelings.
5. The parent and child develop a stronger bond.
Healthy relationship building in a family is essential to your family’s emotional health. Playing games together also helps provide “teachable moments and garner insight into their behavior in their peer relationships.”
Having your children, no matter what age, want to spend more time with you as a family is shown to lead to happier and healthier development in their personalities and personal relationships. It is extremely important to feel that your family is not only in a safe place to grow up, but to build meaningful memories of having fun together as a family.
Not sure if you have a fun family? Take this brief quiz!
- Do your kids still ask you to play games with them? Yes/No
- Do you groan and attempt to avoid when asked the above? Yes/No
- Does your family enjoy playing together? Yes/No
- Your kids prefer playing with friends at home rather than at their friend’s houses? Yes/No
- Does your family enjoy some type of “structured fun time” together at least 1x/week? Yes/No
If you answered Yes to at least 3 of 5 questions, then you are probably still a “Fun Family”. If not, no worries, there is still time!
Dr. Stu Leeds is a clinical psychologist, whose practice includes individual, marital, family, and group therapy of children, adolescents and adults. Dr. Leeds also specializes in forensic psychology – evaluating and treating juvenile and adult offenders and performing risk/threat management assessments.
