Encourage your child to take the lead in planning these dates , or for younger children , give them a few choices from which they can pick their favorite excursion .
Playing games can help children sharpen math and language skills , learn the value of teamwork , and have healthy experiences winning and losing .
70 www . AspireMAG . net | October / November 2024
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Schedule Dates with Children |
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Get Playful with Game Nights |
Common relationship advice is “ Be sure to go on date nights with your partner !” But what about dates with your kids ? Especially for larger families where kids rarely get dedicated time with a parent , this can feel like a real treat and can instantly deepen connection .
Encourage your child to take the lead in planning these dates , or for younger children , give them a few choices from which they can pick their favorite excursion .
Pack a picnic , check out a new museum , explore a new-to-you hike in the next town over or go paint pottery together . We only have one child , but even our daughter says that she really enjoys our mommydaughter road trips , and she loves it when Dad takes her to a play or a concert just the two of them .
Growing up in the 80s , game nights were a staple in many family homes , as were pizza nights , and movie nights . We didn ’ t have the distractions of technology ( unless you count television and Atari games !) that are pervasive in our society today .
Too much reliance on our electronic devices is exactly why game nights are so critical these days . Choose one night a week to play family classics like Clue , Monopoly , Scrabble , and Pictionary or more modern games like Exploding Kittens , Apples to Apples , or Ticket to Ride .
Playing games can help children sharpen math and language skills , learn the value of teamwork , and have healthy experiences winning and losing .
Engaging with loved ones in this way creates shared memories , supports collaboration ( and fosters healthy competition !), and generates lots of laughter !
70 www . AspireMAG . net | October / November 2024