| Go to a Ball Game, Soccer Game or the Circus. Events like these give the opportunity of simple conversation. Perhaps your teenager like mine does not talk all, but there is a chance… We go to Soccer Gamers and have purchased two season passes. This way my wife and I go at different times and with a different Child. These events by their nature open conversation opportunities where other events may not. A movie for example is not a place for interacting. It's Your Day This is something I heard while listening to a Tony Robbins tape. Have one special day for each child where they can do what ever they want within reason and budget. If you can, schedule a vacation day to do this. The older child will realize the importance of the event and the time was set-aside just for them. I would say: "Jacob this is your day what would you like to do" My advice is also to keep a hot list of things you heard in the past just in case the child says " I don't know" Time Capsule Just get some stuff together and bury it. Be around when the items are selected. This creates a lot of interaction and conversation. Don't know how to make one or what to choose? There are plenty of suggestions by a searching Google. Letter Boxing Letter boxing is a combination of hiking, puzzle solving and treasure hunting. Basically folks have hidden little boxes all over the country. In these boxes are logbooks and a hand made rubber stamps. You follow clues to the box. Once you find it you stamp their logbook with your family stamps and use their stamp in your logbook. For more information of this great hobby and pastime plus clues for boxes all over the United States: Rake Leaves in a Park This works with the younger children up to 12 I would guess. Go to your local park with a rake and pile up those leaves. As you know children likes to jump in them. The beauty of the park trip is that you don't have to pick them up. We bring hotdogs as well. Wedding Album Go though your wedding album or video. There are always a lot of questions and there is the closeness of looking at a book together. Game Night Turn the TV off and pick a game. It is that simple. At my house I have some of the colorful board games hanging on the wall like pictures. They are reminders of games we own. Try the game Apples to Apples it is a great game with a very slight learning curve. There are two versions to choose from. Read Together This might not work well with the older child but for those younger ones it is good also if you have them read to you. You can assess their reading skills this way. Does Something On a Whim Do something that is not planed. Do something you may not have done before or in a long time. Make it spontaneous. Go to the Zoo, Museum, Movie, Miniature Golf, and Ice Cream, Get a Pumpkin or go out to dinner. Just do it. Dinner Together In today's fast paced work and school schedule it may be a rare time where the family is together for a meal. Simply make it happen. The results will get you all in touch with each other's lives. |
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