Wise investment: Family-time ideas

GRASONVILLE, Md. (Catholic Online) - In her book titled Time, author Karen H. Whiting uses Bible quotes relating to time and she provides suggestions to help people better manage time and increase the quality of family time.

The book Time is one in a series by Whiting called Secrets of Success for Women. One of the entries focuses on what families can do together and begins with the following quote: Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 6:7. These words from the Bible reveal an expectation of spending time together as family. Time to sit, rest, walk, and waking up that is spent together. More and more studies show that the biggest factor for good grades and preventing teen problems is eating meal with the family at least five days every week. Family Meals Write a menu and shop/prepare meals ahead.
Let everyone help set the table, cook and cleanup.
Take turns or divide meal chores.
Turn off television and other distractions.
Begin with grace.
Chat about each person's day.
Discuss homework, tests, and school events.
Talk about joys and reasons to be thankful.
Share memories and jokes. Spouse time Set a date with your spouse at least once a month.
Pray together.
Join a couples Bible study.
Set time to discuss parenting, budget and your relationship. Make family a priority Go to work earlier if needed, but arrive home for meals.
Schedule family outings and game nights.
Plan family trips and vacations together. Family meetings Meet together to pray and discuss problems or changes.
Focus on only one problem for each person.
Use meetings to praise family members too!
Discuss responsibilities, chores and schoolwork. Family devotions Spend time together in God's Word.
Make it fun. Do an activity and then relate it to a Bible passage or verse.
Buy fun resources such as Family Devotional Builders (Hendrickson Publishing.) Timely lessons Help your children learn to gauge their time.
Explain that being on time is courteous.
Help your children make wise time choices
Be a good role model of using time wisely. Family fun Look through family photos of videos.
Picnic outdoors. Or picnic inside in bad weather.
Play board games.
Play ball.
Sing or dance.
Bicycle together.
Take a family walk.
Make ice cream sundaes.
Have a treasure hunt. - - - Karen H. Whiting is the author of Secrets of Success for Women: Time. To order this or other books in the series, contact www.secretsofsuccessforwomen.com.