4 Ways To Connect With Your Family This Summer

Don’t neglect the time you have with your family. In the end, we only have 18 summers with our children. 18 memorable summer holidays to explore, grow together and invest in the people they will become someday.
Here are a few ideas to help you reconnect with your loved ones this summer…

1.       Celebrate Experiences

As an adult, I can hardly recall the toys and gifts bestowed to me as a child. I do however remember the laughs shared with my family; the moments spent building forts out of cardboard boxes and playing hop-scotch in the driveway. After all, life is about cherishing moments and experiences with our loved ones – and not things.

Take some time out this summer to celebrate experiences with your family. This doesn't have to be as big & grand as a trip to Disney. It can be as simple as finding a new park you have never been to. Go for a summer hike outdoors, plan that overdue camp out under the stars – and enjoy a carefree summer of adventures with your children.

2.        Spend Time One-On-One
​
It’s great to bond as one big happy family and celebrate the summer together. However, it is just as important to connect with your kids and spouse one-on-one. This alone time will help cement your relationship.

Plan one-on-one time this summer with each member of your family. Perhaps it is a pamper session with your pre-teen daughter or an afternoon of biking with your son. Have a backyard picnic with your significant other. Do something special that you know they will love and build memories that will last a lifetime.

3.       Disconnect For A Day

“Sometimes you have to disconnect to stay connected. Remember the old days when you had eye contact during a conversation? When everyone wasn't looking down at a device in their hands? We've become so focused on that tiny screen that we forget the big picture, the people right in front of us,”
– Regina Brett.

Pack away the phones, tablets and more – even just for a few hours. Decide on a set day or weekend this summer where you will pack up the car and venture away from home with your family to spend some quality time together – disconnected completely from technology. Can't be away for a whole day? Set aside certain hours of the evening to be electronic free.

4.       Start a Family Tradition

Start something new! From the moment you wake up until the moment you lay back down - find new & creative ways to make a whole new experience together. It may be an annual weekend at the lake or a visit to the zoo, but whatever it is, schedule a special family event that will be the start of your own family traditions over the summer holidays. This will help you reconnect as a family and build your bond for generations to come.

I hope that you take a moment to step back and find new ways to connect with each member of your family.

Have some other great ideas or something you love to do together? Share with us in the comments.

Featured Gallery:
BJ & Deidre at Oakes Quarry, Huber Heights
Photography: Elisabeth Ashliegh / Elisabeth Ashliegh Photography ​