To see what several families are planning to do with their "night off" on Monday, March 7, visit
Plymouth's plans for "Putting Family First".
Why is this "Night Off" so important? Overscheduled, frantic lives interfere with rituals such as family celebrations, weekend outings, and vacations. Family time and relationships can be more crucial to healthy lives than scheduled activities, yet we have difficulty resisting this pressured way of raising kids. We want to encourage families to examine their day-to-day schedules and to choose what matters most. You might want to create your own Family Night - one night a week where EVERYONE stays home. Need help in starting one?
Pick a night. Set a time: Set a time and location that everyone has agreed upon to meet. It is best if you can pick a given night each week (every Monday or every Thursday) and keep it there. At the outset, this might not be possible but should be a goal.
Everyone commits: When a family decides to focus on family night, each member commits to making it work. That means we have to say "no" to conflicts. Teenage kids need to have the night off from work and school activities. Moms and dads need to say no to work projects, phone conversations, and athletic events. This is one of the hardest parts of a family night program, but it is essential.
Time is spent together: Television, listening to music or everyone reading something different doesn't count. Family activities on family night involve everyone together. Activities such as walking or hiking, playing board games, working together in the yard, being involved in community service projects, visiting relatives together and the like are the model.
No heavy stuff: Family nights are not the time for discipline, for arguing, for forcing compliance. Make them light, fun and engaging.
For more ideas on planning your own family night, visit:
Family Night: Simple and PowerfulNational Family Night a MonthReady, Set, RelaxFamily Night Make It a Part of Your Family's Routine
Posted by Susan at 3/02/2005 08:10:00 AM | Link