How to Strengthen Family Bonds

A family with a strong bond is one of the best things that you can have in life. The support and strength that you get from each other help you stay rooted. The struggles and problems are easier to face knowing that you won’t have to face it alone. And waking up every day just makes it worth it because you know that you are loved and you are giving love.

However, building a strong foundation can be challenging. Nowadays, life is more hectic, and people seem to prefer doing things virtually. The fast-phase lifestyle even makes it more difficult to find the perfect time to have everybody in the family present. Nothing will beat personal interactions, but you have to make an effort to achieve them.

If there’s a will, there’s a way. The silver lining with the present times is that it is easier to do things in the comfort of your own home. Maybe your youngest is sad about something, and you can cheer him up with a homemade cotton candy as seen here. Maybe besides checking for work emails, you can open another tab and look for potential ticket sale on your family’s dream destination.

The point is, you can always make do with what’s in front of you. Yes, a strong family bond can’t be achieved overnight. But small acts can make a huge difference in the long run, and they are doable.

Schedule Family Time

The first and crucial step to strengthen family bonding is scheduling family time. As we have mentioned earlier, you have to find the time or day where everyone in the family can be present. To do this, you need to plan and maybe a pen and paper in hand.

We get that everyone in the family will have things to do. Kids have school, and you and your partner have limited time after work. However, even an hour of a simple hanging out can help in keeping everyone “connected.” Who knows? Maybe you find out that every Wednesday night, everyone is free.

If you have set a regular schedule that everyone agrees on, they can easily navigate their tasks around it. It will be your designated family time, and it will be easier to always keep it free. You can even make this time period into a special family tradition even if it’s a simple as watching that show every Sunday.

Eat Together

Speaking of traditions, one of the easiest and most accessible bonding moments that you can do is by simply eating together. Whether it’s at your favorite restaurant or just a simple dinner at home, eating together helps for better communication.

A good tip is you can choose breakfast because it is on a fixed schedule. But if it is impossible to eat together every day, you can just choose the meals where everybody can be present. Just make sure that these times are well-spent, meaning nobody is allowed to stare at their phones or any distraction.

Other than the emotional and mental benefits you can get from eating together, you can also gain physical benefits from it. For example, instead of eating at odd hours and chomping down on fast food, your family can have a designated healthy recipe at a healthy eating time.

Take Advantage of Simple Tasks

Simple things such as household chores can also be turned into a family bonding moment. It might sound corny, but instead of having someone complained about dishwashing, you can make this chore into a more fun team effort.

Maybe siblings can have someone do the washing while the youngest can wipe the plates dry. Or add some fun games like “pass the message” while you’re on a train by the sink. Maybe even put on music as everyone dances and laughs around while cleaning the house. It’s simple moments like these that can make a difference, especially in your kid’s childhood.

According to Diligent Chef, cooking is also a fantastic opportunity to establish bonds. You can involve everybody in meal planning, and even kids might enjoy grocery shopping with you. And even if they are young, they can still do simple tasks like mixing eggs or washing fruits and veggies. This will also encourage them to enjoy eating healthy foods because they helped prepare them.

During these simple tasks, don’t forget to praise every achievement, no matter how small. This helps in building self-confidence, especially in younger children. And overall, this teaches each family member about teamwork and maybe even discover hidden talents along the way.

Volunteer Together

Altruism and doing good deeds is another excellent way of establishing family bonds. A family that volunteers together will definitely stay together. If you think about it, you get to teach children at a young age the importance of kindness.

It will also help everyone in the family to see and appreciate the good qualities that each member has. It is activities like these that allow each member to apply what they’re passionate about. For example, your partner might have a passion for teaching languages or your eldest might want to pursue veterinary medicine. You can volunteer on various projects related to their interests and watch their eyes spark with joy firsthand.

Travel Together

One of the greatest things that you can do for your family is by going on a trip together. This is probably the best way to spend your downtime and just enjoy the days altogether. You will need to plan in advance to make sure that everybody can come along. And a great way to keep the excitement going is put your travels in the home calendar.

It might surprise you, but children cherish experiences over material things. Sure, you can buy them the video game that they’ve always wanted. However, instead of allocating that money for toys, holidays and travels will shorten the distance between family members. Isn’t it ironic how being away from home brings you closer to “home?”

There will come a time where everyone can look back on these experiences and maybe remember some inside jokes. Overall, you’ll get two benefits. You will be able to loosen up after months and months of mundane lifestyle. And second, you can spend more time with your family and strengthen your connections with each other.