Our family has to be super-intentional just like yours does. If we are not intentional to do something, we just get sucked into TV and tablets. Next thing we know, we haven’t been enjoying time together in varied ways like we want to!
We are huge fans of the Activity Jar, which can be modified to meet the needs of singles with friends, dating and married couples as well as families. Simply put some ideas of things you can do on pieces of paper and pull one out when you are ready to have some fun! Here are a few of my tips to get you launched toward sweet success:
- We refresh our activity jar each season. The fun things we do in winter (make hot chocolate and sit by the fire) are frequently different from what we do in the summer (popsicles and pool-time).
- We color code the papers for time and money. For example, most of our things are free. If something costs money, even $10, it goes on a green notecard that I would not pull if the bank account was low. Other ideas of how to use color coding: Yellow= physically active, Red = board game, blue= involving food, purple= outside the house.
- Consider everyone who will participate in the activity. It is only fair to think of my youngest child who is 5 as well as my husband (age withheld) when we make activities. Ideally, we make all the cards together. Some weeks there will be someone needing to compromise because it is not their IDEAL activity, but everyone should be able to participate. Our wine tasting activity card is in another Activity Jar.
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- Pick a day to use the Activity Jar. A cute jar that isn’t used is well, just clutter. Pick a day and time that you can spare 30 minutes to do something fun together and make it happen!
- Review how effective the Activity Jar is for you. After a month or so, have a pow-wow to determine if the Activity Jar is working. What are the favorite activities? What should be added this next quarter? Is there something we like doing so much that we should add it into the schedule on its own? Are the activities inclusive of all who use them? (no more pedis says your husband!)
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