Celebrating Family Bonding and Togetherness

Let’s think back on your own childhood days – what are some of your favourite memories with your family?

WHY IS FAMILY BONDING IMPORTANT?

According to a study, “children demonstrated positive emotions when parents spent time with them, and increasing that time was the key to improving children’s well-being” (3).

“When family members engage in activities together and share experiences, it reinforces their collective identity” (4). A sense of belonging and self-worth is cultivated, where emotional connections and trust form a strong foundation to develop resilient, confident, and happy children who know they are valued, supported, and loved without question.

These moments of togetherness can be a crucial ingredient to support individuals as they traverse life’s ups and downs, providing them with a sense of comfort and self-belief.

Spending time together every day can be as simple as a 3-minute dance party right before bedtime to shake our sillies out and regulate our nervous systems for a good night’s sleep (1&2); eating meals or doing chores together (5).

You can also decide on family traditions to celebrate the special days that matter to you and your family. Some family traditions include:

BIRTHDAY MEALS‍

Celebrate a birthday with a meal chosen by the birthday boy/girl, and enjoy a lovely family meal together!

HOLIDAY MOVIES OR BOOKS‍

Pick out a specific festive movie or storybook to enjoy together as a family. For example, watching The Polar Express every Christmas Eve will be something the entire family can look forward to.‍

FAMILY GAME NIGHTS‍

Designate a day every week or month for Family Game Nights, where everyone gets to stay up past their bedtime and have fun with board games together!

Are we getting you excited to plan some family bonding time this festive season? Here are some activities to get you started!

DECORATE THE HOUSE!‍

Get the whole family involved in decorating the house for Halloween and Christmas. Older children can even help with researching design ideas and purchasing decorative items (with a set budget, of course!).

MAKE SOMETHING FOR HALLOWEEN‍

Whether it’s an elaborate hand-sewn costume or a simple hairclip or paper mask, spend time making something together with your children to enhance their Halloween costumes this year!

CELEBRATE THE SEASON OF GIFTING‍

Christmas Day is not only about receiving presents but gifting too! Make time to get together with your children and involve them in wrapping presents for extended family members. Let them experience the joy of giving too!

Don’t wait for the New Year to set new resolutions. This is the best time to start organising and prioritising traditions and activities for family bonding and celebrating the spirit of togetherness.

Join Camp Beaumont as we create everlasting childhood memories that will be cherished by your children as they grow up. Don’t forget to share your new family traditions and fresh ideas for fun and meaningful family bonding moments with our Camp Beaumont family!

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Additional Reading and References: 

1. https://drsarahbren.com/49-supporting-our-childrens-emotional-regulation-and-sensory-processing-experiences-with-occupational-therapist-laura-petix/ 
2. https://extension.psu.edu/helping-children-to-shake-it-off-releasing-and-reducing-stress 
3. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10106685/ 
4. https://pmpediatriccare.com/blog/the-power-of-family-bonding-strengthening-connections-through-shared-activities/ ‍
5. https://familypsychnj.com/2021/05/discovering-how-family-bonding-improves-mental-health/