Top Five Reasons Why Family Fun Time is Important

Top 5 Reasons Why FamilyFun Time Is Important

In today’s fast-paced world,

where both parents often work and

after-school hours are packed with

sports, music lessons and other

extra-curricular activities …

… it’s easy to let family fun time

fall by the wayside in favor of

frenetic schedules.

However, family activities

and traditions are

perhaps more important

now than ever.

Don’t let this vital – and

fun – part of your family

life slip away …

… make a point of

scheduling time together

into yours and your kids’

jam-packed schedules.

Here are 5 of the many

reasons why.

FAMILY BONDS1

Time spent together just

having fun is associated

with kids and parents

forming stronger emotional

bonds, and it doesn’t have

to be a major trip or

expensive outing.

Just a simple picnic at the

park, a trip to watch the stars

at a local observatory …

… a family bike ride around the

neighborhood can be just as

beneficial (if not as thrilling!) as

a trip to Disney World.

When you take time out of

your hectic schedule to relax,

hang out and laugh with your

kids, it shows them that

they’re important to you and

you enjoy being with them.

Kids who spend leisure hours

with their parents are more

likely to turn to them for advice

or seek them out when they’re

having problems.

FROM BETTER MANNERS

TO BETTER GRADES2

Youngsters who spend quality hours as a family have been found to perform better academically, be more compassionate and even learn better manners.

Whether you’re taking the kids out for an ice

cream cone, going on a family sledding expedition

or just watching a movie …

Whether you’re taking the kids out for an ice

cream cone, going on a family sledding expedition

or just watching a movie …

… there are so many chances to teach manners, talk about values and even to show by example how to deal with things when they don’t go as planned.

After all, as one mom put it, “I tell my kids that the

bumps in the road aren’t bumps, they are the road.”

Kids can learn to navigate them with

kindness and humor.

BETTER COMMUNICATION

WITH MOM AND DAD3

When youngsters engage

in fun activities with their

family, more open

communication tends

to develop…

… and when kids feel free

to talk more openly with

their parents, they tend to

get in less trouble.

Something as simple as

playing a friendly game of

catch or splashing around

in the pool …

… can lay the groundwork

for a more connected

relationship between you

and your kids.

In a time when people of all ages tend to become

a bit isolated by more technological modes of

communicating like the Internet and texting …

… just getting out and

playing as a family can set

the ground for super inter-

family communication.

ENHANCED SELF-ESTEEM4

Whether it’s a family tradition of:

Driving around to “ooh and ah” over Christmas lights.

An annual shell collecting expedition to the beach.

A Jack-o-Lantern carving ritual.

Times spend having fun as a family hone

a child’s all-important sense of belonging,

of being loved.

When parents like hanging

out with them, kids get the

notion that they’re people of

value, that their talents,

personalities and opinions

are important.

Youngsters who grow up

feeling secure of their place in

the world gain a strong

foundation of confidence …

… and self-esteem that will

serve them well on the

sometimes rocky road to

growing up.

BETTER TIMES IN THE

TERRIBLE TEENS5

Teens who have grown

up spending active

family time with parents

often have fewer

behavioral problems in

these tough years.

In spite of the fact that they

may act like they don’t care

about hanging out with you

and may pass up family

time for a get-together

with friends …

… parents should keep scheduling special time and not take it too much to heart if it doesn’t always work out.

After all, kids often need

their parents the most just

when they’re acting like

they couldn’t care less.

Last but not least, family fun time is just plain

fun, for you and your kids.

There's not a lot more heart warming than hearing

your child say "remember how we always....?"

You're a parent who makes their children a priority

- keep up the good work by providing the best

after-school care possible.

Maplewood Country Day Camp in Easton MA is the

perfect fun and safe place for your kids after school.

Visit the site at http://www.maplewoodyearround.com

Maplewood Country Day Camp & Enrichment Center

150 Foundry St. (Route 106)

PO Box 88 (Mailing)

South Easton, MA 02375

Email: info@maplewoodyearround.com

Telephone: (508) 238-2387

FAX: (508) 238-1154