This is a collaborative post. All opinions are my own.

I believe that there are going to be some truly positive side effects that come out of this time of quarantine...and one of those, I hope, is that families grow closer together. With all this time at home, and with our own family members being the only ones we're supposed to see in person (at least within six feet), I think we're all spending more time than usual hanging out as a family. And while I miss my friends, I love the extra family time! After all, Ben and my kids are my favorite people in the whole wide world. But of course, just being physically together in the same room isn't the same as intentionally planning activities to bond together as a family. So with that in mind, here are some ideas to build stronger bonds with each other. 

1. Cooking & Baking

Our kids love being included in cooking and baking. They're too young for chopping or doing very much by themselves, but they think it's so fun to help in any way they can...whether it's washing vegetables, measuring and adding spices, or simply pressing the buttons on the rice cooker. When Ben bakes bread, he always lets the kids be a part of the process by giving them their own pieces of dough to knead and pat into little mini loaves. In general, cooking together as a family is a great way create memories, share a fun activity, and feel closer to each other. You can let the kids pick what to cook sometimes, or choose meals where they get to have some responsibility and involvement...like building their own pizza with toppings of their choice. Not only will you be bonding with your kids, but you'll also be helping to teach them one of life’s most important skills--cooking.

2. Eating Dinner Together

Once you've cooked that meal together, of course you have to sit down and enjoy the fruits of your labor! Family dinners used to be a basic staple of family life, but in today's busy world they've fallen to the wayside...which is a real shame. Ben and I have decided that eating dinner together is something we always want to prioritize. It doesn't have to be a homemade dinner (takeout or eating at a restaurant counts as well), just as long as we're all eating together as a family every night. The stability of this time is a comfort for kids and it gives the whole family a chance to catch up and know what's going on in each other's lives. I think that's so important.

3. Family Movie Night

Our kids are still pretty young so we haven't done this yet...but it's something I'm looking forward to sharing with them! I think it would be fun to make family movie night a special tradition, with popcorn and treats and everyone cuddling and hanging out. Then we can discuss the movie together and be there to answer any questions our kids have. So far I've only let my kids watch shorter shows, and usually I try to get some cooking or cleaning done while they're watching...but for movies, I'd like to sit down and watch with them sometimes. That way, I'll understand their references and know the songs as well. Showing that you care about what your kids are interested in is one of the best ways to bond with them...so if that means singing songs about garbage trucks, I'll do it!

4. Exercise

Sports and exercise are a great way to bond with others, and that holds true for your family as well. We're not really a sports-watching family, but we do love to exercise together. We've really enjoyed taking our kids on hikes, and we're working on teaching them to ride bikes so we can do that together too. Eventually, I'm excited to share more activities with them like Frisbee, fun runs, tennis, and skiing (I've never been a skiier but I'd like for my kids to learn...so I'll have to learn along with them!). As they get into playing sports themselves, of course we will support them and be their biggest cheerleaders. Bonus: by getting active while bonding with your kids, you'll be getting plenty of exercise in as well.

5. Reading

When kids are young, it's super important to read together. Reading is one of my favorite activities and it's important to me that my children love to read as well...so this has been a big part of our daily routine since our kids were babies. But just because they get older, doesn't mean that family reading time has to stop! Ben has fond memories of his parents reading chapter books to him and his siblings, everything from Where the Red Fern Grows to Lord of the Rings. I love that! As kids get even older, you can sit with them on the couch and simply spend time in each other's company while you each read your own books. This simple act is surprisingly soothing, and a great way to feel closer as a family. Who knows, maybe you could even start a family book club in your own home...

6. Have A Picnic

With the current lockdowns, perhaps we can't have a picnic at the park or the beach right now, but we can have a picnic in our own backyard. There's something fun about eating outside that makes picnicking a classic family bonding idea...and one that's perfect right now with the warm, sunny, spring weather that we're finally getting! Even better, if you have a picnic in your backyard it'll be really easy to transport the food, and easy to run back inside if you forgot the forks!

7. Play Board Games

Ben and I love board games, and spent lots of time playing games together when we were dating and newly married. We actually have quite the stash of board games that are sadly not getting much use right now. Once our kids get old enough to learn them, I am really looking forward to building some happy memories of playing games together as a family. I think board games are a great way to get closer together and teach your kids important lessons about how to be competitive in a friendly way, and how to lose with grace (not gonna lie, that's probably something that I myself could still work on).

What are your favorite bonding activities to do together as a family?

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