It seems that it is getting harder and harder for families to find time to spend together. Between work and school and church activities that each member of the family commits to, it can seem tough to just "be a family." Once you lose communication, you can lose touch with each other very quickly. Make time for your family again and at least once a month try to schedule a family getaway that includes outdoor recreation such as swimming, hiking, hunting and fishing.
At least once a month, more often if you can get everyone's schedule aligned, plan on taking an outing that will include every member of the family. Even the family dog can tag along! Make some hard fast rules for taking a family trip together. Ensure that video games, portable DVD players, CD players, iPods, laptops and other electronic equipment are left at home. Books, magazines and reading material is fine for the drive. Ditch everyone's cell phones at home except for your own and your spouse's. That way, in case of an emergency, you'll still be able to communicate. Make a solemn promise to yourself, no business calls and no text messages while you're on family time. Try to include outdoor recreation fun that everyone can enjoy such as boating, skiing, hunting and fishing.
Another outdoor recreation activity you can enjoy with your family is hunting. It teaches cooperation among the group as well as the importance of following safety basics. Many fathers and sons bond through hunting trips and given the chance, many girls find they enjoy the challenge of tracking and bagging a whitetail deer on their own as well. Pass on knowledge for safe hunting practices, such as how to track whitetail deer or mule deer, that you've picked up over the years. Teach your own children and they will likely pass on your knowledge to their children when the time is right to take them hunting.
Using outdoor recreation is a wonderful way to get your spouse away from the television, yourself away from the pressures of work and get your kids out of the habit of playing video games or surfing the web. You can maintain family connections and make them strong with regular family gatherings that get everyone together to enjoy the great outdoors.
