More Ideas for Family Bonding

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

29 May 2011 11:22 PM

Obviously, organizing a rummage sale is not the only way to strengthen the parent-child bond. In fact, up until yesterday, I wouldn't have even considered it as an option. However, it just goes to prove that you don't have to take an expensive vacation or take off an entire week from work in order to make special memories with your son or daughter.

If you are looking for easy and affordable ways to connect with your children during the Memorial Day weekend, consider these fun activities:

DIY Chia Head: Hand out a Styrofoam or plastic cup to each of your children and have them draw a face on it with markers or paint. Next, place some potting soil into the cups, and then add in a few grass seeds. Your child can water his grass each day and as the seeds grow, he can trim the "hair" on his cup head.

Plant a garden: There's no better way to spend the first unofficial days of summer than planting a garden. Gather the kids and assign each of them a job. Younger kids can help dig holes while older siblings can insert peonies or other hearty flowers. If you have the space, you could even plant some vegetables, such as tomatoes and carrots. Planting a vegetable garden is an exciting activity for children as they can eat the fruits of their labor. While you are planting and watering take time to discuss the growing process.

Outdoor painting: Cut up old kitchen sponges, dip them into paint and let kids go hog wild applying the colors to a large sheet set up in the driveway or the backyard. Sponge painting is great for creating pictures of trees or flowers. You can paint the trunks and branches of the trees with a brush and let your kids fill in the leaves and flowers with their sponges. Or, just have a ball making random designs with the unique painting tools.

Conservation Conversation: Okay, this is one may be a stretch, but it worked for me and my daughter. Younger kids are eager to help mom and dad with just about anything and my daughter is no exception. Earlier today she strolled out to the garage where I was sorting recyclables and asked to lend a hand. We spent a good 20 minutes playing a game of who could sort cans, newspaper and plastic containers the fastest. I also took the opportunity to talk to my daughter about other ways we could help preserve the planet, such as shutting off lights when she walks out of a room and not letting the water run the entire time she is brushing her teeth.

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Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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