{"id":73581,"date":"2024-04-11T16:48:26","date_gmt":"2024-04-11T09:48:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/?p=73581"},"modified":"2024-04-11T16:48:26","modified_gmt":"2024-04-11T09:48:26","slug":"you-only-get-18-summers-with-your-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/you-only-get-18-summers-with-your-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"You Only Get 18 Summers With Your Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"

1. The family that travels together stays together\n

An interesting study done by the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that families who travel together aren\u2019t just more bonded than their counterparts, but also that couples were less likely to divorce when they took vacations with their kids. By the way, \u201ctraveling\u201d doesn\u2019t have to mean \u201cgetting on a plane and heading off to an exotic locale.\u201d It can be something as simple as hopping on a bus and taking a free walking tour of your town. The key is to just experience a new place together. So, don\u2019t let money stop you from reaping this benefit.\n

2. Family vacations make your kids smarter\n

True story! You can learn more about it here, but long story short, experts confirm that taking vacations together boosts your children\u2019s brain power! It makes sense if you think about it. Anything that shakes up your usual routine gives your brain a chance to learn something totally new.\n

3. That post-vacation glow is contagious!\n

Experts found that people who come home from vacation feeling all relaxed and happy help spread those good feelings to others around them. What does that mean for you as a family? Basically, you\u2019ll be feeding off each other\u2019s positive energy and helping those happy vibes remain long after you\u2019ve put away the last of your vacation laundry.\n

4. Just eating dinner together can keep your teen on the right track\n

Those that can\u2019t get away for a long vacation (or even a quick weekend getaway), take heart. This study (which is actually a study of multiple studies) found that, in families that eat dinner together regularly, teens were less likely to smoke, drink, or use drugs. According to researchers, \u201cYoung people whose families routinely eat meals together spend more time on homework and reading for pleasure Frequent family meals have also been related to better nutritional intake and a decreased risk for unhealthy weight control practices, substance use, sexual intercourse, and suicidal involvement.\u201d\n

5. Spending time with you is important for your teen\u2019s well-being\n

Speaking of teens, a 2012 Penn State University study found two interesting things. First, despite being famous for their independent streak, most teens today do continue to spend time with their families. Second- and most important- the time they share with their parents and other adult caregivers is actually very important for their overall well-being.\n

The stereotype that teenagers spend all their time holed up in their rooms or hanging out with friends is, indeed, just a stereotype. Our research shows that, well into the adolescent years, teens continue to spend time with their parents and that this shared time, especially shared time with fathers, has important implications for adolescents\u2019 psychological and social adjustment.\n
6. Getting outdoors together helps your child focus better\n
Research shows that just spending 20 minutes outdoors together helps improve your child\u2019s overall concentration. It makes sense if you think about it because you\u2019re giving them screen-free time to use their own imaginations and really connect with the world around them. Plus, there\u2019s just something about fresh air to chase away brain fog and invigorate your mind, body, and spirit.\n
7. Spending time with your kids makes you more compassionate\n
Family time isn\u2019t just great for your kids, it can make YOU a better adult. At least, that\u2019s what one series of experiments found. Adults who spend time with children are kinder, more compassionate, and more generous. As clinical psychologist, Desreen N. Dudley told VeryWell, \u201cThe suggestion is that children may hold the key to influencing more positive decisions that adults make that can benefit society as a whole.\u201d\n
8. Quality time helps moms learn to communicate with babies better\n
If you\u2019re suffering from major mom guilt because you can\u2019t figure out why your newborn is crying, this may help ease your mind. Moms do not have an innate ability to decipher their baby\u2019s cries, according to this Cell Press study. It\u2019s actually something we have to learn, and the only way we can really do that is to spend time with our babies. That doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t work outside the home or ever leave your infant\u2019s side, though, so don\u2019t take it the wrong way. That way leads to even more guilt! To me, it means being present when you\u2019re with your baby, and spending some one-on-one time bonding.\n
Now that you know why you should spend time together as a family, let\u2019s take a look at some ways to fit it into your schedule.\n
Five Fun Things to Do With Your Kids\n
Whether you have a whole two weeks to get out of town or just a few hours to spend together each week, these ideas will give you a chance to bond and reap the benefits of family time! There is nothing better than spending time with your loved one and creating memories that will last a lifetime.\n
1. Maximize your family vacations\n
Taking a family vacation is one of the best ways to really reap the benefits of family time because you\u2019re more focused on each other. Maximize those benefits by also taking a vacation from your phone, social media, and other distractions.\n
You can use your phone to look up directions or take pictures if you don\u2019t have a \u201cregular\u201d camera, but that\u2019s it. Speaking of pictures, definitely take some, but don\u2019t spend your entire vacation looking through the lens of a camera. Remember that you don\u2019t have to share every single moment on social media. The idea is to be wholly present!\n
2. Plan a staycation right in your own town\n
Can\u2019t afford to go out of town? A week-long staycation is a great alternative. If you can swing it, book a hotel room for the full \u201cvacation\u201d experience. If you can\u2019t, don\u2019t worry, you can \u201cstaycation\u201d right in your own home. Either way, take a week and act like a tourist in your town, visiting attractions that you\u2019ve just never gotten around to seeing.\n
You will discover new things about your town or nearby cities. You don\u2019t need to go far to have new family experiences, the idea is to do it together. Oh, and remember that the same phone and social media rules above apply!\n
3. Try \u201csurprise destination\u201d day trips\n
If a full week together is totally off the table, break your family time up into smaller chunks and plan weekend or day trips. Make it fun by keeping the destination a secret from your kids and giving them clues along the way. For example, if you\u2019re planning a day trip to Disney World, you can give them a Disney book to color on the ride.\n
At each rest stop, give them another clue, like a pair of mouse ears, a magic wand, or other things that they associate with the destination. The kids will absolutely love it!\n
4. Set aside an hour or two after dinner for family time\n
Even if you\u2019re able to go on vacation together, you should still set some time aside throughout the rest of the summer as designated family time. Try eating dinner outside when it\u2019s nice out, then linger in the backyard and play some games.\n
On rainy days, stay at the dining room table and take turns telling stories or talking about your day. Family dinners are so important and even have scientific benefits. Did you know that eating family dinner 4 times a week makes kids more successful? It\u2019s true! Family dinners make kids more successful and healthier.\n
5. Plan weekly \u201cfamily date nights\u201d\n
What do you do when your schedules are so insane between work, sports, and other obligations that it\u2019s impossible to carve out even an hour or two a night to spend together? Make family date nights, of course! Pick one night a week and completely unplug from distractions.\n
While an occasional movie night is okay, try to choose activities that allow you to interact as a family. Cooperative board games like Kingdomino or Outfoxed are fun for younger kids. With these games, you and your kids play against the board instead of each other. For older kids and adults, try charades, Pictionary, and other games that get their creative juices flowing.\n
When it comes to family bonding activities, it\u2019s not always about how much time you have, but how you spend the time. Remember that there is always time for \u201cfamily time\u201d if you make it a priority. No matter how busy your life is, set aside the time to bond and share with your loved ones. Quality time with your family will always be the best time.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
1. The family that travels together stays together An interesting study done by the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that families who travel together aren\u2019t just more bonded than their counterparts, but also that couples were less likely to divorce when they took vacations with their kids. By the way, \u201ctraveling\u201d doesn\u2019t have to mean\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":73584,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[642],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-73581","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-moral-story"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/You-Only-Get-18-Summers-With-Your-Kids.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73581"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73581\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/73584"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/legendstitch.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}