Family nights are supposed to be a great way to get the entire family together to have fun and learn about each other. Here are several keys to having effective family nights. Make it fun. Enjoy yourself and let the children have fun. They may not remember everything you say, but they will always cherish the time of laughter.
A holiday vacation or field trip is the best time for the entire family to unwind and destress…
Keep it simple. The minute you become abstract or complicated, you’ve missed the whole point. Don’t try to create deeply profound lessons; just try to reinforce your values and beliefs in a simple, easy-to-understand manner. Don’t dominate. Pull your children into the discovery process as much as possible.
If you do all the talking, you’ve missed the mark. Ask questions and invite participation in every way possible. Go with the flow. It’s fine to start out with a well-defined outline, but don’t kill spontaneity by becoming overly structured. If an incident or question takes you in a different direction, great! Some of the best teaching opportunities are completely unplanned and unexpected.
Mix it up. Don’t allow yourself to get into a rut. Keep the sense of excitement and anticipation through variety. Do it often. We tend to find time for the things we feel are really important. It is best to set aside one evening per week for Family nights. Remember, repetition is the best teacher. This article was published with permission from Focus on the Family Malaysia. If you liked this article and would like to go deeper, we have some helpful resources at: www.family.org.my
