Families in Focus

This is a chaotic time for families.  Suddenly we are all home together.  We are working, schooling, and living together. What an opportunity we have now that we may never have again!  Are you making the most of the possibilities that are right in front of you?

Families are the building blocks of our society.  Now, more than ever, we are able to focus on our loved ones.

Families look differently for everyone — some families have a mom, dad, and one child. While other families may include a single parent, step siblings, grandparents, aunts or uncles, or close family friends. No matter how you define family, we all have one. 

The following activities can help strengthen your relationships with those who you live with!

What makes your family unique?

Spend some time discussing and charting how your family is unique.  What do you value?  What brings you together?  What do you like to do together? There is no one size fits all when it comes to family.  If you’re not careful you will try to fit someone else’s mold or try to be like all families.  This is not helpful or healthy for your family, so really focus on what makes your crew special.

Develop a family symbol

Create a family emblem or a short family motto as an expression of your family’s unity.  Take your time and involve the whole family unit.  This can evolve over time and could be a picture, play dough sculpture, a placard for the refrigerator door or any other depiction you agree on.  Show your creativity.

Plan a family game night

Break out the board games or jigsaw puzzle that perhaps haven’t been out of the closet in a decade.  Enjoy a favorite family snack together and just have fun together.

Look at old family photos

What an opportunity we have to share our family history with the next generation.  Call grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles with shared memories.  Ask questions of the older generations, and learn from their wisdom, as many have lived through trying times such as these.  In fact, you could even pull some questions to ask from the list below.

Q&A Family Night

Develop four or five questions for family discussion.  These should move from light to some depth depending on family trust and the ages of the children.  Here are a few idea starters . . .

1. What is your favorite movie or television series?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What is your proudest moment?
4. What’s your life goal?  Or what do you want to do when you grow up?
5. What is your greatest fear?
6. What’s your role in the family? (Fixer, Nurturer, Talker, Quiet One, or some other role)
7. How do you respond when experiencing difficult feelings?
8. When you’re upset, who do you talk to?

Develop a one-month family goal

Given all that the frantic activity around us now, what do you and your family want to accomplish in the next 30 days?  Get everyone to contribute an idea.  Write them down and decide as a family what you can work together to accomplish.  Keep the family objective visible in a family gathering place in the kitchen or dining room.  Review your progress, assign small tasks, and review in brief weekly family meetings to stay on task.  Celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small, along the way.

Plan to help someone outside your family

Nothing brings a family together more than serving others.   Pick another family, a senior adult, or a community project where you can work together to meet a real need.  Include age-appropriate activities for each family member.

Family and friends are important for all of us.  Use this time of physical distancing from others to bond your family together.  We share these simple ideas with the hope that they will ignite new ideas for you that fit your unique family.