We have all heard the saying “the family that plays together stays together.” This really holds true, but living a busy life often means it is necessary to cut something out. You may be tempted to cut down on playtime. Yet, cutting out playtime means cutting out an opportunity for the many health benefits that family togetherness provides.
Playing together helps open up the lines of communication in the family. In this day and age, we often communicate through social media and email. It’s important to remember that actually talking to each other is the best and most healthy way to connect.
Spending time together as a family creates a sense of belonging for everyone. Knowing that you have someone who understands and supports you to come home to at the end of the day can get you through a tough day. Additionally, spending time together creates life-long memories that family members will cherish. Try getting the family together this weekend for a fun day in the park or a game of toss football in the backyard.
One of the best things about playing together is that it allows us to get the physical activity we need. We need to get 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week. So why not make one of those days a family day? Ask each family member to choose the physical activity for a day and alternate each week. You may find yourself doing things you haven’t done since grade school such as jump rope, play hop scotch or ride bikes, which should bring a smile to your kids' or grandkids' faces, and a laugh or two. After all, we've also heard the saying “laughter is the best medicine!”