The Importance of Spending Time Together as a Family Unit (2024)

How much time do you spend with your family in a week? Month? Year? Spending time together as a family is crucial and beneficial to every person involved.

Benefits of Spending Time Together

Spending time with each other strengthens a family’s bond as a unit. Engaging together allows family members to take a more active, present role in their relative’s life. Having this opportunity is especially important for parents. When parents spend time with their children, the children feel more connected to them. This connection encourages children to feel comfortable sharing with their parents, allowing the parents greater access to what is happening in their child’s life.

Maintaining a family unit is essential in cases of open adoption.Studies have shownthat adoptees benefit from having a relationship with their birth parents. Being able to visit and connect with their birth family can help adoptees to gain a greater sense of who they are as a person. Connections between adoptive parents and birth parents are also necessary. When the parents are connected, it allows the child to see all their parents getting along. This connection reinforces that it is ok for the child to build a bond with their birth parents and family. Adoptive parents and birth parents can learn to work together. From there, they will have a better understanding of each other and the significant roles they both play in their child’s life.

Both children and adults who have a solid support system are more likely to reportbetter mental health.

Ideas for Family Activities

• Staycations: Small trips or outings can be an easy, affordable way of getting everyone together for family fun. Great places to visit can include amusem*nt parks, museums, historical sites, and state parks.
• Vacations:Several governments have lifted or modified pandemic-related restrictions in recent months. International travel has resumed, and families can take those dream vacations that they may have had to put on hold last year. Some ideas for trips include:

• • Family-friendly cruises
  • Scuba diving in Antigua
  • Lotte World in Seoul, KR

Just be sure to remain vigilant by checking the Department of State’sTravel Advisoriesand follow the guidelines in place at your destination.

• Long-term activities: Take a class with your child or get involved in sports. Learning something new or practicing sports as a family is a great way to grow closer. This time will be a time regularly set aside in your schedules for you to interact and bond over something you all love.

Check out ourSummer Bucket Listfor a more comprehensive list of ideas for family fun.

Make a Plan

Be open about your interests and which activities you would like to do. Everyone involved should also be honest about how much time they can commit family activities. Open communication about these topics will help ensure that every family member has a good time so that no one feels pressured into a trip or activity they will not enjoy. Sharing your availability also aids in managing expectations on how often you will be able to get together.

If your family is planning an outing or vacation, try to make arrangements as soon as possible. With many sites reopening this summer, reservations for events and flights are filling up quickly. Planning allows you to make sure everyone has everything necessary to participate. Make a checklist of things to confirm. Are masks or vaccinations required at your destination? How many family members are allowed at one time? Does your family need any special accommodations? Answering these questions can make your family outing go smoothly.