- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- dads today articles
- dads today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
From Our Sponsors
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Easy Does It
Make Family Time a Priority
By Shel Franco
- Schedule family fitness and fun. When was the last time you played with your kids? Kickball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, biking, swimming and hiking are all wonderful ways to have fun as a family and get fit in the process. The Ess family of Depew, N.Y., takes bike rides around the neighborhood. Mom, Kate, says the biking brigade consists of two kids on two-wheel bikes, one kid in a toddler seat, and Mom and Dad leading the way. "The kids love it, and truthfully, so do Bud and I," Ess says.
Make family dinner a top priority. Mandel reminds you to keep the food healthy and colorful, and the conversation positive. Miller agrees with the importance of family dinners. "The only saving grace is that dinner time is family time," she says. "No outside distractions, no friends over, no TV, no radio ... while we may go our separate ways after meal time and clean-up, we've had time to reconnect."
- Cultivate a house of humor. "See your household objectively with humorous eyes like a sitcom you would be laughing at," Mandel says. In Miller's home, silliness is encouraged, even at dinnertime. "A little laughter does a body good," she says. When you're having fun, you want it to last. Family time will happen more often and with less effort if you really enjoy being together.
