As we head into the back to school season, it can be really hard to find time to connect as a family. Our kids go to two different schools with two wildly different schedules, and it often feels like we’re all running in different directions all week long.
If we’re not careful, it can be really easy to get to Friday night and realize we’ve barely had a conversation as a family, much less intentionally connected with one another.
Over the years, I’ve created an unofficial mental list of ways that I can make our weeknights feel a little more connected. I’m not always good about doing it, but if we get halfway through the week and things are feeling wonky, this is always a good reset.
My kids go back to school today (!!!), so this is something that’s been on my mind lately, and I wanted to share a few of my go-to ways to connect when weeks feel particularly busy. You don’t have to do it all - just pick one or two that feel like a good fit and commit to trying them. You’ll be surprised at what a difference a little shift in your routine can make.
10 Small Ways to Make Family Weeknights More Connected
Play a card game. Our absolute favorite way to connect as a family and shake things up a bit is to play a game after dinner. We have a solid rotation of super simple games that don’t take long and everyone enjoys, and my favorite nights are the ones where we finish cleaning up from dinner and then immediately play a round or two. It always makes a regular Tuesday feel more like a weekend, and the memories of laughing together around the table are the ones that’ll sit with me forever! Our go-to’s are Skyjo, Rack-o, Five Crowns, Play Nine, and Uno - but you can see all of our favorite family games here!
Have a family show. Last year we set out to pick a show that we could all enjoy as a family. Like, truly enjoy - not just something that dad and I can scroll on our phones while the kids watch. We started off with Doctor Who (the kids adore it) and lately we’ve been watching Young Sheldon. During the school year, we sometimes watch an episode after the kids are showered and in their pajamas, right before they go to bed. It’s such a cozy time to all pile on the couch and laugh together, and it’s a very low-lift way to connect. It can be tricky to find shows for the whole family (especially with younger kids) but a few we love watching together include: Full House, Family Matters, Top Chef Jr., Beast Games, and America’s Funniest Home Videos.
Post dinner walks. This is hard for us at the beginning of the school year because Texas still feels like the surface of the sun until 10PM. But once the evenings start to feel a little cooler, there isn’t much I love more than forcing everyone outside for some mandatory family exercise after dinner. The kids complain about it. My husband is always a tiny bit annoyed by the idea. Heck, by the time we step out the door I’m usually questioning if I even want to do it anymore. But, there’s something kinda magical about moving your body together out in nature. Everyone comes home feeling a little calmer, the conversations on the walk are great, and it’s the perfect way to wind down for the evening. We don’t do this one as much as I’d like, but I want to add it to our routine more this year!
Start a dinner tradition.
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