Families today take many different forms: two parents, one parent, blended and extended. But all families play an important role in a child’s life. Children have so much to share. Celebrate your family with “together time” activities and let them know you value their thoughts and ideas.
Make a Family Time Capsule
Start with a shoebox or similar container. Have all members of your family contribute items that show who they are today. Such things as a school paper, a favorite recipe, a child’s art, an office memo, a photo and so on. Have the group make a cassette or video recording telling about these items and why they are important. Talk about special talents and interests including what made them happy today. Toss in a current family photo. Store this “time capsule” away in a safe place. Bring it out at a later date to see how the family has changed and grown.
Deal a Deck of Family Cards
Make a deck of family cards with your children using index cards and photographs. Include photos of family members, extended family, friends and even the family pets. Glue the photos onto the index cards and label. Now, with this special deck of cards your children can play sorting games such as sort all the moms, dads, cousins, sisters, brothers, dogs, cats or even by gender of boys, girls and animals.
Another use for these cards is placing them on a family tree. Paint a tree onto a large sheet of poster board or butcher paper. Laminate it with clear self-adhesive plastic. Arrange the family cards on the tree. Use a rolled piece of masking tape on the backside of the cards to stick them onto the tree. It might be nice to hang this special tree on a kitchen or family room wall.
Set Up a Family Dance Night
Gather the group and start the music. Do the limbo, bunny hop, Mexican hat dance and even more grown-up steps as the Macarena, train and electric slide. Check out instructional dance DVD’s from local video stores and even the public library.
Oh Baby
Start with reading library books about animals and their babies. Discuss the similarities and differences between parents and their young. Then enjoy going through old family photo albums. Notice the changes of your children as they have grown through the years. Last, compare pictures of yourself and your parents to your children today. Are there many physical traits across the generations?
We Are All Unique
Explain how everyone has fingerprints unlike anyone else. Have all the family members make a thumbprint collage. Press your thumb on an ink stamp pad. Press the thumbs down on white paper and label with everyone’s name. Look through a magnifying glass and compare prints.
Bag of Disguises Game
No matter what you put on your body you are still “you.” It’s fun to experiment with disguises. Provide a bag or box of disguise props and a mirror and have fun. Suggestions for your box are wigs, make-up, hats, helmets, uniforms, clothing, ties, jewelry, scarves, glasses and so on. Bring out the camera as this is a great time for humorous picture taking.
Draw a Family Calendar
On a large sheet of construction paper draw lines for the month or take several sheets and make a few months. Select dates your child is sure to be interested in like his birthday, major holidays or planned trips and outings. You can use the calendar to show your child how long he must wait for the special event and this also improves his knowledge of numbers. Don’t forget to let the kids decorate these calendars with their artwork.
Say “I Love You” With Coupons
An act of love and help is far greater than any material gift. Parents and children can make coupons with helpful offers. Decorate these slips of paper and give them to each other whenever a gesture of love feels right. Try offers like “I’ll do the dishes for you,” “Here’s a hug and kiss XOXO,” “I’ll rub your back,” “I’ll clean my room,” “I’ll take you to a movie,” “I’ll read an extra story to you” and so on.
Map Your Family
Use a state map, a U.S. map or a world map and place a sticker or pin over the places where your family members live. Then help your children write letters or cards to extended family you have located on the map. It’s great when cousins become pen pals.
Make a Keepsake to Sleep On
Help each of your children decorate a pillowcase with their handprints and designs they choose to draw. Don’t forget their names and date of this project. Use fabric paints and permanently set the prints following the manufacturer’s instructions. Sweet dreams on this special keepsake.
