I’ve come to realize that my kids will not stay young forever. In fact, in a blink of an eye, my first baby is already 9 years old and in grade 4. Next year she heads to middle school. What?! How did that happen? While we have always valued family time, now than ever it is more important to embrace quality family time whenever we can. Here are 5 Tips for Quality Family Time:
#1) Start Traditions. Growing up we had a weekly tradition every Saturday night. After supper and baths, we would sit down in the living room, pop some popcorn or pop open a bag of chips and watch Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman (I hope I’m not dating myself, LOL). I still remember these evenings as being one of my favorite times of the week. We have started traditions with our children too.
Playing games together as a family has gotten easier as our kids have gotten older. No longer are we stuck playing simple preschool games, we have now graduated to being able to play simple games geared towards teens or adults.
Two games that work great for families with children of all ages are Card N Go Seek and Bounce-Off.
Card N Go Seek – At the count of three, everyone dashes off to retrieve an item revealed on one of the cards. The first player to get back with the correct type of item wins the matching card! Players have fun deciding for themselves what the cards mean. For example, finding something SWEET could be a lollipop or a picture of your great aunt Helen! Interpreting the cards really lets your personality shine.
Bounce-Off – This game is simple for everyone to understand and play, but the competition is fierce! Whether you’re playing against others by bouncing balls in a frenzied race to match the card or the (slightly) more civilized turn-based play, Bounce-Off™ game brings the action and the results are wild!
#2) Take Photos. I have never liked to see myself in pictures, so I always tried to avoid being in a picture by taking pictures. But I’ve come to realize that my kids love being in pictures with me and taking pictures of me. Without these pictures, my children will not have memories of me to look back on when the day comes that I am no longer with them. Women, DON’T be afraid to put yourself IN FRONT of the camera. Your kids will love you for it!
#3) Plan Ahead. Planning a regular weekly night to play games, watch a movie or go out together as a family shows your children that you are serious about spending time together with them.
#4) One to One. While spending time as a family is important to build memories, one to one time is equally important. Make sure you take time to bond with your little ones individually. From baking a pie for Thankgiving dinner, to throwing the ball in the backyard your little ones (and you!) will have precious memories of the quality time spent together.
And last but not least,
#5) Keep it Manageable. While it can be tempting to overload yourself with activities, remember your limitations. If you and your children are too tired to make quality family time work, scale it back and spend time watching a show together or reading.
No matter how you spend time together as a family this fall, you can start a new tradition with a Mattel games prize pack valued at $39.98!!
GIVEAWAY MOMENT:
3 (THREE) CANADIAN Mommy Moment readers will WIN a Mattel Games Prize Pack!
** giveaway is not open to residents of Quebec **
To enter, leave a blog post comment telling us your favorite family tradition from the past or present.
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Tanya R says
Our favorite family tradition. Watching “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” While decorating the Christmas Tree. AND a new one this year. Painting rocks at the campground around a fire.
Cheryl says
My favourite tradition is at Christmas and thanksgiving dinner we play board games with the whole family
tammy ta says
Our favourite tradition is reading books before bed and giving each other back or foot messages
Louise Gilbert says
when I was little mom and dad would have company over for dinner and then they played cards all night. I now have followed their foot step. We have friends over and we play either cards or broad games
Laurie P says
Card games were always a great time!
kathy downey says
Our family tradition is we have game night every Thursday night for the family who ever is free attends some night we have 5 some night we have 20,or even more…we play games and sometimes they play music
jan says
a family tradition we have is to walk around the neighbourhood during any sort of ‘decorating season’ (Halloween, Christmas) and check out the decorations.
Judy Cowan says
One of our favourite family traditions is our weekly family night that we either watch a movie or play a game together.
Wendy says
Going and cutting our own Christmas tree each year
Florence C says
A family tradition for us is a family dinner and play games for the rest of the night. We do that about once a month.
Lynda Cook says
Our tradition every year at Christmas is the family gets together and it’s a full day of playing cards and board games!!
Jeannie says
Our family tradition is that we camp once a month in our living room, with tents and sleeping bags.
Cheryl says
Each boxing day our huge extended family all get together at my moms house for a big potluck 🙂
Rosanne Robinson says
Our family tradition on Christmas Eve is for the adults to play board games, after the kiddies go to sleep.
Tricia Hope says
I married into a family of Rook players.Great game!
Erin W says
I love our family tradition of going out to the forest and cutting down our own Christmas tree!
Haidy says
During Terere time (green Tea) we have spend many good family circle times, a time of sharing, listening, laughter and fun.
Tina L. says
Growing up we always played boardgames while the adults cooked.
Angela Mitchell says
Every year since I was a child Boxing Day is board game day the whole day. We continued the tradition with our children.
Doris H says
Favourite tradition is during Christmas we have family movie nights and a fave we watch is “Charlie Brown Christmas”.
nicolthepickle says
We have lots of traditions, but a nice one is my sisters play games on Sunday afternoon. And we’re all fairly competitive.
Carol Denny says
We get together the Saturday before Christmas. Our whole family, aunts,uncles,cousins,nieces and nephews. We make it pot luck. We have around 70 t0 80 people and every year we rotate who’s house we have it.
debbie s says
every friday night is pizza and movie night
julielaura1 says
We always watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation together!
Viv Sluys says
My favourite family tradition is always eating dinner together as a family and talking together.
Nicole Jubleew says
My favourite family tradition is baking holiday cookies with my mom.
Ashley Sanche says
Our favorite family tradition is family movie night on Sundays 🙂
salexis says
I love our tradition of going to Bright Nights at Stanley Park at christmas time. Also love reading with my kids at bedtime.
Susan Patterson says
Our favorite family tradition is getting together at Christmas and celebrating the season all together! We share many things and it is magical!
Susan Patterson says
Our favorite tradition is when our whole family gets together for the Christmas! We share many magical and spiritual times!
Wanda Bergman says
We used to have “crazy family fun night” and all sleep in the family room, sprawled on the couches and the floor with our blankets, and the dog in there, too. We’d play games, watch movies, etc. A lot of fun!
lori b says
love watching miracle on 34 th street
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
My favourite tradition is that we all have the same meal on Christmas Eve. Even though we are spread over 3 continents we all eat Gruenkohl of our evening meal. A German meal using kale, potatoes, ham, sausages and cream.
lynn clayton says
our christmas train tradion my son gets one train every year ive been doing it since a baby
Christine says
Reading books before bed!
Lisa H says
On Christmas Eve, we sing carols and everyone in the family gets to pick one for the group to sing.
Robyn Bellefleur says
Our tradition is on Christmas Eve we all get to open one present before going to bed. The rest of them in the morning.
ruth moreira-lozon says
baking Christmas cookies together!
Sunshine G says
We go to my cousin’s beach house every spring and it’s lovely!
Dianne says
When my children were young Santa always brought a game for the family. After the gifts were opened and while we waited for the turkey to cook we would play the new game as a family. My kids still enjoy playing games when they get together.
Travelbuds says
My kids and I always decorate the Christmas tree together while listening and singing Christmas Carols.
Silvia D says
our favourite tradition each year would be decorating the house, baking cookies and the annual Gingerbread house.
LisaM says
We host thanksgiving dinner at our house – it’s so awesome having everyone together for a few hours.
Jon T says
When I was younger I loved the Friday night make our own pizza night
Kim D says
Every year at the cottage we have a rummoli tournament!
Meg says
My favorite tradition is decorating the tree while eating, drinking egg nog and watching Christmas movies.
Brenda Lacourciere says
We do movie nights with the kids special snacks which include a big bag of whatever snacks they like.
Ainsley Kootchin says
One of my favorite traditions is driving around and looking at the lights…with hot chocolate in hand, listening to Christmas carols.
Amber Y says
We don’t really have any traditions. We share a family dinner and celebrate Christmas with family friends on Christmas eve.
Crystal Porter says
We have a day each week that we put aside completely for family. I look forward to it.
leana says
Watching white christmas while decorating the tree!
Natasha Severson says
my family loves life or trouble! Thanks for the great giveaway!
Ginger Gervais says
On weekends we play card and board games. One weekend older kids pick and next younger kids pick.
Sabrina Tong says
All of our family traditions are centered around food, so feasting, feasting is our favourite family tradition 🙂
SueSueper says
My favourite family tradition from the past is playing with gadget puzzles, wither it be rubics cube, or other figure out how to take apart, or slide pieces to form a picture.
Debbie W says
We are changing traditions. We are concentrating more on the gathering, and games, instead of the gifts.
Jonnie says
My favorite tradition is going sledding in our new pajamas on Christmas Eve
Bethany Gallinger says
Trick or treating is my favourite family tradition.
Amy Heffernan says
Our favorite tradition is friday night board games!
Darrah Bailey says
Favorite family tradition is our BIG family snack we all get together and have on Christmas eve
Caryn C says
Our favorite tradition is baking every sunday with the kids
Athena says
We love our family movie or game nights.
LorieB says
Growing up we as a family used to play the game RISK till all hours of the night. We loved it!
missbobloblaw says
We always take the time to have a sit down breakfast every Sunday. It;s nice to start the day with a good meal and conversation.
Lynnette says
We have a tradition of a game of hide and seek with our little ones and then reading books before being tucked in a night 🙂
Cathy C says
I like that we have pizza every Friday night and try to make it Friday Pizza and a movie night, but that is getting harder as the kids get older and have a more active social life.
J Head says
movie nights on Friday or Saturday night.
Elaine Buonsante says
Our favourite family tradition happens on Christmas Eve when we all gather with children and grandchildren for Italian food, fun, the Christmas Story by candlelight, and the exchange of gifts.
marie s says
we love playing hand in foot with aunts/uncles/cousins/parents/siblings. its so much fun
Lisa Smith says
We have a Christmas brunch for everyone friends and family, so much better then a full supper.
Amber Y says
Baking cookies together and then watching movies is always fun and delicious! It’s hard not to eat the whole batch right away though.
Eldon says
We like to do a potluck
Michelle Armstrong says
We have Sunday dance parties!!
Carlos Samuel says
Our favorite tradition is all the family (uncles, aunt..etc) together to spend xmas!!!
melissa fowers says
I love that was all spend Christmas eve together in our pjs eating lasagnas and watching Christmas movies. The whole extended family. I love it
Sara says
Driving on weekends – various communities.
Jo B says
We have many traditions but the best is playing games together as a family.
CLC says
We all play cribbage.
Nancy Parsons says
On Christmas the entire family gets together at my sisters and we sing Karaoke after dinner. It starts of with nice Christmas songs and ends up singing anything and everything.
Julie says
Christmas Eve traditions were always my favourite! And I continue them now with my own children 🙂
Huguette E. says
Our favorite tradition was board games at the cottage. No phones, no TV, it was nice.
kim says
I have a crafty/baking day with the kids a few days before Christmas. We love it.
Sandy Couzens says
Our favorite family tradition is we say what we are thankful for before we eat dinner. It was sometimes hard for the child that might not feel they were having a good day, but in the end they always found something 🙂 It is a wonderful way to open up the conversation at the dinner table too.
Chris W says
Favourite family tradition is a one might movie experience – the entire family kids and all watch Eelf followed by the adults watching Bad Santa – we do this every year the weekend before Xmas.
Deb Philippon says
Our favorite tradition is brunch on Christmas Day and Easter. A brunch casserole goes in the oven, and is ready by the time eggs are found and presents are opened.
Kim Stenner says
Family get togethers for all the holidays where the kids play their instruments and ready poetry and memorized stories
Mary Warner says
My in-lwas Scrabble nights.
Julie Z says
I love going for our annual Christmas drive! We grabbed hot chocolates and drive around for a few hours and find the best decorated houses – so much fun!
Anne Derkat says
When the kids were small, they and their Dad went out into the bush and cut down a Christmas tree.
ivy pluchinsky says
my favorite family tradition is having a nice family Christmas dinner with everyone
Pam R says
One of my favourite traditions is coming out of church on Christmas Eve, carrying a candle and trying not to let the wind or snow blow it out. When we get home, we each find a place to put our candle and see whose lasts all night long!
Kate Hearn says
We always get new jammies on Christmas eve and read ‘night before Christmas’.
Gina Fleury says
We always love opening one present on Christmas eve.
Christopher Mason says
My favorite tradition is our eating of food
Dixie says
My favourite tradition is starting our Christmas decorating on December 1st!!
Marlene V. says
Always eating dinner every night together is an important for our family.
Mike Gismondi says
family game night every Wednesday!
Elva Roberts says
Our Christmas Eve tradition is to have as many family members as possible here on Christmas Eve, after Mass. we have pizza and admire the tree. We have punch and some desserts and Grampy and I open our gifts. We get caught up on all the family news and
go home to wait for Santa.
AD says
We have many traditions; some have disappeared since I was a kid, others have evolved. My one favourite that was added in the late 1990’s was going to see Zoo Lights in Calgary. Every year, we used to go and drink hot chocolate, look at the animals, enjoy the lights and Christmas atmosphere. I have continued this with my boys. Thanks!
Kelley Moore says
ours is spending time with each other which is really hard to do with everyone’s crazy lives!!
Derek says
Long scrabble nights with a glass of wine.
KellyPC says
We used to play games at night & on rainy days at the cottage!
Sherry K says
We always have a drink Christmas morning in great grandma’s glasses.
dawn walsh says
once a week on friday we would always have hot dogs or hamburgers and chips or pretzels and pop and get to watch a movie or a friday night tv show
Nate Fuller says
We open one present each on Christmas Eve because we can’t wait!
Aimee says
Our family watches Dr who together
Lauraleigh says
My favourite family tradition is every summer we take our kids to Canada’s Wonderland! We all love the rollercoasters. We love a good family game night too as we always end up cracking up! Having fun is important in our house! 🙂
Stephanie LaPlante says
My current favorite family tradition is everyone helping me decorate my wheelchair with lights and ornaments.
Karla Sceviour says
Visiting family and friends on Christmas Eve delivering presents.
J says
My favourite family tradition is watching old classic and current holiday movies.
Carey Hurst says
Watching National Lampoons Christmas Vacation , every day till Christmas, going to lights in Simcoe was a tradition with my grandparents when they were able
Kristi R. says
Every year we participate in Operation Christmas Child so my children can help give to those less fortunate.
Victoria K says
My family tradition includes the whole family getting together on Christmas eve and Santa coming to visit the children.
NathaniaH says
Going out to get our own Christmas tree with my husband and kids!
anna key says
On Christmas eve either my brother or I got to sleep under the Christmas tree in a rubber dinghy…we alternated years. It may sound strange but we loved it!
Carole Dube says
We have many family tradition but my fav is baking Christmas sugar cookies with the children.
Kim Tanti says
My favorite tradition was when my whole family would get together for Christmas. I come from a family of 7 kids and we would get together with our spouses and children. Those were great times.
Tara Gauthier says
Our favorite tradition is our summer camping trips, during the Christmas holidays we love our Christmas eve appetizer night!
Angie Andrews says
setting up the christmas tree, the kids love helping me decorate it
Karine says
Loved building the christmas tree all together a few weeks before Christmas with Holiday music and all 🙂
yan deng says
We play monopoly every chrismas
Karen thaeter says
We love wearing the funny hats from the Christmas crackers at Christmas dinner
Lisa McLain says
We loved playing Uno when i was a kid !