As a mother of three very active boys, I’ve learned a few tricks along the way to make sure that I stayed connected with each one individually and as a family group.  I think my best piece of advice is you need to find time to laugh and cry together.  When I look back at the most memorable and significant moments of our family, it’s been when we are all together laughing or one on one at special moments.  So how do you make these moments happen? 

Sometimes it just happens, but as a teacher and a mom I don’t think leaving these things to chance is the best way to ensure quality and meaningful time together that leaves you with strong connections with our kids.

Most of us would agree that today’s families face a “time famine”.  Many parents feel that they have too much to do and not enough time to do it.  Many of us working parents do not feel that we have enough time with our kids.  We are distracted and find it hard to come up for air.  Many kids, when asked what their concerns are, suggested that they wish Mom and Dad would be less stressed and less tired.  Families need to find ways to slow down and zero in on one another. 

Setting up rituals will help you stay connected.  You need a few. Some of the most important to my family have been family dinners and family games night. There is something very powerful about the accountability of committing to come to the table most nights that works. Family members know that every day for dinner or every week for games night, they are going to have to reconnect together.  These act as a motivator, a deterrent, and a safety net since the family will interact with one another every night and week.  No one can get too upset, depressed or confused without someone in the family noticing.  The whole family can work as a team to help each other when someone needs it!

At every stage of your child’s development, you and your child are discovering wonderful things about each other. From birth, it's important to form a secure attachment with your child. And as your child grows into preschool, school and even high school years, it's equally important to recognize how your child is changing and how you can be in tune with these changes to keep your connection strong and support your child's healthy social, emotional and intellectual development.

Planning weekly rendezvous to play a game with your family will get everyone together and talking. Make it consistent.  You can have a friendly challenge that everyone has to bring to games night so that everyone has to think about how they can test family members in good fun.

The most important part of family dinners is the simple act of having family members interacting on a regular basis. Playing card and board games instead of watching TV offers the same relationship building experiences. Each family member can pick a game a certain night of the week or on game night. Often it is easier for children to interact with parents during a game as everyone lets down their guard and frustrations of the week.  Families will bond over games, and it doesn’t even feel like bonding!

Staying connected as kids approach the teen years and become more independent may become a challenge for parents, but it's as important as ever — if not more so now. While activities at school, new interests, and a growing social life become more important to growing kids, parents are still the anchors, providing love, guidance, and support. And that connection provides a sense of security and helps build the resilience kids needs to roll with life's ups and downs.

As my boys hit their teens and there were signs of growing independence set in we had to learn to loosen the ties and allow some growing room. But we didn’t have to let go entirely.

Small, simple things can reinforce connection. Make room in your schedule for special times, take advantage of the routines you already share, and show that you care. Family dinners, game nights, going to watch their sporting events, walks and family vacations are still key elements in our connections with our kids. Don’t forget to stay interested in what is important to your kids and really show you care!  Plus my very smart mom, Elaine once told me never stops hugging your kids.  I think this is something we all have to remember that no matter how old our kids get that we still need to hug them a lot!

Feeling connected to my three boys is paramount in my life. Whichever activity you choose, try to interact with your kids on a regular basis and show them you are interested in their activities, friends and interests. If you are going through a rough time, remember that kids can too go and so will your relationship. If you keep with it and show them you love them, the relationship will get better.

With a few of these rituals in place and being religious to them, we have a happy, laughing and very connected family - and so can you!

About Griddly Games

Griddly Games creates award-winning party and board games that deliver innovative, engaging fun that brings people together while encouraging social interaction, learning, strategy and challenges that anyone (the entire grid of people) can enjoy. To discover more about Griddly Games, visit www.griddlygames.com.