Make your family time a blast with these activities

"Family" is a term always associated with "closeness" and "unity." This is something everyone wants to have in their lives. The warmth that a family brings is scientifically proven to have a lot of health-related benefits--both physical and mental.

In this fast-paced world, it's easy to throw in the towel on spending quality time with your family when you're focused on your career. But it's vital to carve out some time for your kids and loved ones, and make sure you have a memorable time as a family.

There are a variety of activities you can do with your family to create a strong bond with them. Family time activities aren't only limited to indoors, but can also expand to outdoor activities and vacations.

Here are some activities that can make your family time more enjoyable.

Outdoor activities for family time

What better way to bond and spend quality time with your family than getting out of the house and getting some fresh air. Plus, your kids will find this very amusing after having spent most of their time in the house, drowning in a sea of digital gadgets.

Below are some ideas that will help you plan your next outdoor activity with your family and also add to your physical well-being.

Organize a picnic

Take a break from your gadgets and weekend movie marathons. Plan a picnic with your family where  you can make memories and cherish them for a long time.

Nothing beats the feeling of just going out and about with your loved ones, playing some lighthearted games and sharing laughter. Spending time with your family this way is so beneficial.

Picnics help you bond with your family and strengthen the connection you have with them. There are a lot of health benefits that come with spending time outdoors with your family, such as reducing stress, putting you in a good mood, improving your immunity, and more.

Grow your family's bond with gardening activities

Bright and lovely colors are sure to attract kids. So why not bring your whole family along for a little gardening activity?

Gardening activities will help with your children's sensory skill development. When they smell the flowers, touch the different kinds of leaves, and walk in the mud, they will register these new inputs in their minds.

Parents and other adult caregivers can take care of the heavy work like composting the soil and taking care of weeds, while the kids can enjoy themselves by watering the plants, painting the pots, and picking fruits or vegetables.

Visit the zoo

Kids are used to seeing animals through their TVs. How cool it would be to visit the zoo as a family and let your kids see the animals up close and personal? They can see the animals in their natural habitats and learn a lot of valuable lessons about nature.

This type of family outing also comes with its own sets of merits. As a family, you can introduce your kids to how animals live in the wild and answer their questions. Your kids can look at the names of animals and widen their vocabulary skills, too.

Go on a hike with your family

In this digital-heavy world, going on a hike and being one with nature is priceless. This can be a really nice change of pace for your family. The kids can catch a break from being on their phone all day, and you can relax from your everyday chores.

Hiking can help build a strong bond with your family. You can encourage your kids to discover new trails, help them develop mentally, all while giving your whole family the gift of physical exercise.

Indoor family time activities

It's not always necessary to head outdoors with your family to have a good time. There are plenty of activities you can do indoors. You can plan small activities to do with your kids to keep them entertained while you take a break from your work.

Make a note of these pointers below while you plan your next indoor activity with your family to create a lot of memorable moments.

Organize a scavenger hunt

With a little planning, you can create a fun scavenger hunt for your kids. Scavenger hunts are one of those games that takes little effort to get the maximum fun.

This will also help your children grow skills such as working together and developing critical thinking. To make the scavenger hunt even more fun, you can play some background music and give your kids prizes to round off an amazing day.

Cook together as a family

Everyone is busy nowadays, so coming together as a family and doing things is becoming less common. So why not bring your whole family together for a cooking session as a family once a while? It could be a pizza weekend or Saturday brunch.

The goal here is not just to cook a meal, but to bond with your family by sharing a beautiful moment together. You can also use this opportunity to teach your kids their way around a spoon and spatula.

Play a game of virtual Pictionary

Family bonding and fun shouldn't stop even when you're away from your loved ones. With the advent of video-conferencing tools, you can easily connect with your long-distanced family and play virtual games.

A virtual game of Pictionary is sure to get your kids excited and it counts as an opportunity for your family to come together. Get your children's creative juices flowing as they attempt to sketch and you try to guess it.

Pictionary can be a fun way to share laughter among the family, helping with family bonding. You can look back at this memory fondly as the drawings and the guessing is guaranteed to give everyone a good time.

Organize a family movie time

Nothing brings together a family more than a movie night. This is practical, inexpensive, and a sure way to have a lot of fun. The set-up for a movie night with your family is straightforward—set up your television, prepare a tub of popcorn, and you are good to go. This fosters a real sense of closeness with your family members because everyone will be huddled up in the same place. Your kids will feel a sense of attachment with you and this time can also become a time for them to open up to you.

Family vacation activities

Nothing says happiness better than saying, "We're going on a vacation" to your kids. This is a fun way of exploring an area that's different from your home town. Planning a vacation can be relaxing for you as well, as you take a break from your usual chores and hectic office schedules.

These activities below can help you make your next vacation with the family a trip filled with cheerful memories and good times.

Take a cruise

It's impossible to have a bad time while you are on a cruise ship. So take your family on a cruise and have the time of your lives. This is one way you make your summer holidays even more memorable.

Nowadays, cruise ships come equipped with virtually anything one can ask for. They have malls, water games, movie theaters, and much more. So you can chill by the swimming pool while your kids are enjoying themselves.

Plan a family skiing trip

While this may sound like a hassle at first, you'll thank yourself later after a skiing trip with your loved ones. This is an amazing way of getting your family to step outside their comfort zone and indulge in an adventure they'll cherish.

To make your skiing trip a smooth one, make sure to do of the all preliminary arrangements before heading off to the snow-capped mountains. Choose the resort wisely, pack all of your essential gear, and don't slack off when it comes to packing snacks and beverages.

Skiing activities will encourage your kids to get out there and learn something new. It teaches them balance and gives them a good way to exercise the core of their bodies. As a family, skiing can be a lot of fun, with laughter when one of you trips in the snow.

Visit a theme park

If your family is into adrenaline-pumping rides and water activities, then visiting an theme park is a must for you. This can be enjoyable for people of all ages as these theme parks are designed with rides for everybody.

While visiting a theme park, encourage your family to try all the rides there. Your kids will have a blast exploring everything the park has to offer.

This also helps with building family bonds because everyone will be sharing all about the rides they went on and the experiences they felt during that day on the ride back home.

Organize a camping trip

Camping with the family is a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. There's nothing quite like being one with nature and spending time with your loved ones under the stars.

On a camping trip, you can hike, fish, swim, stargaze, and more. There's something for everyone to enjoy. And best of all, camping is a great way to bond with your family and create lasting memories.

You can also spice up the camping experience with your family by sharing some spooky stories while everyone is huddled around a campfire.

Leverage tech to stay close to loved ones

Sometimes your family might be far away from each other. This might be due to various reasons such as work, studies, and other circumstances. Distance doesn't mean that you can't get together and have fun as a family.  

The advent of technology meant that there are countless ways you can stay in touch with your loved ones even though you are thousands of miles apart from each other. There are means through which you can call, text, see them in video call and a lot more.

With Zillum and the suite of apps if comes bundled with, rest assured that you can stay connected, have fun, and make fun memories together as a family--no matter the distance between everyone.   

The importance of family time

In an era totally dominated by digital tools such as smartphones and social media, we are all preoccupied with things that don't matter. Often, our careers and jobs take precedence and quality family time takes the back seat.

But the benefits of spending time with your family should never be neglected. Family bonding time is as important as taking your career to the next level.

The pandemic taught us a great deal about how sticking together as a family can improve morale when the times are trying and nothing seems to go our way.

Here are some of the benefits of spending quality time with your family and building meaningful bonds.

• Lowers stress and enhances mental health

• Creates a sense of belonging and togetherness

• Enables kids to perform well academically

• Creates happy memories that can be cherished for a long time

• Improves overall physical health with outdoor activities

Apart from taking an emotional load off your chest, this can be a great time to connect with your kids emotionally and teach them the values of good parenting. This will be beneficial for them as they grow up.

To put it simply

You can't put a price on the value of quality family time. Sometimes, spending time with your family is all it takes to get you out of your slump and make your day brighter. Whatever you do or accomplish in life, nothing compares to the bond you have with your family, especially in this digital age.

Keep your family at the forefront of your life and spend time with them often. Do activities together that strengthen your bond. Don't forget to create fun and memorable moments along the way.