If you want to strengthen family bonds with kids and teens, it is important to create a loving and supportive family environment doing things that are not only fun but also meaningful.
It’s even more important to start immediately if you are struggling with a child who feels disconnected and doesn’t want to spend time with the family.
As a mom and teacher, I can give you some great tips to reconnect with your kids and teens. Check out these nine strategies to strengthen family bonds, but first, what does it mean to strengthen family bonds?
RELATED: Parental Anxiety: 7 Breakthrough Tips To Calm Yourself Down
What Does “Strengthen Family Bonds” Mean?
When you strengthen family bonds, you set aside time to interact specifically as a family, doing activities or a fun project. The reason for doing this is to develop a solid relationship with your kids.
The problem is that many parents don’t know they need to do this or don’t know how to connect as a family.
As a parent, you can make an incredible impact on your kids if you take the time to connect with them. It’s not a time to hash out family differences, lose your temper, or discipline; it’s a time to express your love and reinforce it with lots of praise and encouragement.
You might be tempted to believe that spending more time at Chuck E. Cheese or some other child-centered place is the best way to bond as a family, but family bonding runs way deeper than this.
It’s more than going to a soccer game, birthday party, or movie. If you want to strengthen family bonds, you must interact with the intention of unifying your family on multiple dimensions.
RELATED: 4 Awesome Reasons to Be a Stay-At-Home Mom: Is It Right For You?
What Are Three Important Points of a Family Bond?
1. Kid fun:
Kid fun is the lowest level when strengthening family bonds. These activities are child-centered. Whatever your children’s interests are, encourage and support them. Invest in lessons and hobbies, and attend their school events, performances, and games.
Show genuine interest in their passion and do it with them.
The problem is parents stop at the first level. They think this is all there is to build a relationship with their children. But there is more!
2. Family fun:
Family fun is the second level of strengthening family bonds. You build on what your child likes but add another dimension—others. It is not kid-centered; it is family-centered.
This often involves the sharing of values and traditions. These shared experiences of family life create a sense of identity and belonging that helps reinforce unity.
These priceless moments together are a part of passing down important beliefs and practices from one generation to the next. Holidays, birthdays, church attendance as a family, and family vacations are just a few ways this happens.
3. Other-oriented fun:
The best and last idea to strengthen family bonds is through other-centered fun.
Most parents don’t do these activities because they require time, planning, money, and an unselfish heart. It is also a struggle to get your kids to see the importance.
The earlier you start your kids, the easier it is for them to do these activities together. You may get some pushback from your kids; however, it’s essential to stay engaged and keep going.
It may be years before you see the impact, but I promise you are doing some of the most critical family bonding you can do. See below for ideas.
Check out podcasts featuring Julie’s story.
How to Strengthen Family Bonds with Kids (and Teens)
While “kid fun” is an essential part of bonding, we are going to focus on “family fun” and “other-oriented fun” in this post. These upper-level ideas are important to incorporate into your family life.
Family Fun to Strengthen Family Bonds
Here are nine ways to strengthen family bonds with your kids (and teens). Don’t forget to praise your kids when they participate with the family. Catch them doing things right. Here are some suggestions:
1. Eat Together
Sit down together for dinner most nights. Give time for each person in the family to talk. And never discipline at the table other than an occasional reminder of table manners. If you do, it will cut off the communication.
If you create a non-threatening environment filled with encouragement, your children will feel safe to open up, strengthening family relationships. You will also learn things at the table that you would never learn anywhere else.
RELATED: How to Deal with a Picky Eater: 3 Easy Tips That Really Work
Get your FREE WEEKLY MEAL PLANNER TEMPLATE PDF so you always know what’s for dinner.
2. Do a Devotional/Pray
Read a devotional that focuses on character. I found kids’ devotionals that told stories. They are much more exciting and relatable than facts. Ask a few questions at the end of the story to get feedback.
This is a great way to work on that “lying issue indirectly” or whatever else your child struggles with.
Pray together daily at mealtime and bedtime. This is a fantastic way to teach empathy. Talk about those who are sick, missionaries, family members hurting, etc.
Let your children pray out loud for these people.
RELATED: How to Pray for Your Child: 6 Tips to Pray In Your War Room (Really Pray)
3. Celebrate Holidays/Make Traditions
Traditions are a fantastic way to connect with your kids. Some suggestions are baking cookies together, decorating the Christmas tree, baking cookies for Santa and carrots for the reindeer, having an Easter egg hunt, and doing Father’s Day shopping.
Some of the best traditions happen organically. Perhaps something only your family does together. One Christmas, when my kids were little, my husband tossed the pancakes from the stove to the table. It was a long way. Some landed on the floor!
We have thrown pancakes on Christmas day every year since then. It’s our tradition. Create fun moments only your family does together.
RELATED: 51 Easy Christmas Activities For Every Age [ Letter to Santa]
4. Family Vacation
A family vacation is another way to strengthen family bonds. We have had some great trips to beautiful places, but camping has been the most rewarding.
Yes, camping. Go figure.
It was especially significant because there were no cell phones to interrupt our time together as a family.
I am not the most incredible camper. Everyone has laughed at my silly mistakes, like hooking my fishing line on a chair, running from a rubber snake, and burning the food.
For years, I have given the family plenty of stories to tell. But these stories are what make us a family.
Silly as they are, laughter and joy are powerful bonding agents, and sharing funny or heartwarming stories can bring family members closer together.
RELATED: How to Create Family Memories: Making Time For What’s Important [Printable]
Get your FREE TENT CAMPING CHECKLIST PDF to help you remember every single item for your trip.
5. Go to Church Together
Going to church together every week strengthens family bonds and helps them grow spiritually. Afterward, you can talk about what your kids learned at Sunday School.
If your kids are older, they can discuss the sermon.
We usually went to lunch together after church to talk and catch up on the weekend. It was a natural way to build strong family ties.
My kids still enjoy doing this with us even though they have moved out of the house.
RELATED: 15 Pro Tips for Raising a Teenage Son In Today’s World
Check out podcasts featuring Julie’s story.
6. Make Use of Deadtime
I have found dead time to be the most rewarding way to strengthen family bonds.
Time in the car, whether going to school, driving to church, making dinner, lying in bed talking, or going on a long road trip, gave us a way to let down and be honest.
Because dead time is usually not filled with stress, talking is more effortless. Some days, not much is said; other days, it may be like a waterfall.
The trick is to be available to talk when your children need you.
It is a great time to encourage your children and their gifts.
Other-Centered Fun to Strengthen Family Bonds
7. Volunteer Together
If you want to strengthen family bonds, volunteer together. Don’t just drop your kids off. Stay. Most schools require a certain number of volunteer hours. Use the summer or holidays to do it together.
You will have something to talk about as a family. You will bond over what you experienced and how you made a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.
We have volunteered at a women’s shelter, served meals to people without homes, and taken mission trips together as a family.
There is absolute gratification in knowing your family made a difference for someone that day. This definitely touched their hearts and bonded us as a family.
Dealing with marriage or family issues? Purchase your ebook or paperback on Amazon or buy Marriage Interrupted or Estranged at your favorite digital store.
8. Go on a Mission Trip
For years, my family has gone on a mission trip together in the summer. This has been a fantastic way to strengthen family bonds.
My kids say this was the best thing we did as parents. It was life-changing for our whole family.
The satisfaction in my children’s eyes after a hard day’s work was rewarding. They knew they were directly impacting others and helping them improve their lives.
Your children may not be excited initially, but keep working with them. They will come along in time if you stick with it.
I can’t tell you how often my teen’s behavior changed after a mission trip. God worked in their hearts in a way I could never have imagined.
RELATED: The #1 Best Gratitude Activity to Do with Your Teenager
9 Give to Others
Make time to give to others. Find a reputable organization at Christmas time and shop for the gifts together as a family.
Your kids could even donate a couple of dollars toward the gift. I highly recommend Samaritan’s Purse or Angel Tree.
If you don’t want to do that, find something you can do as a family to give back to your community.
It can be as simple as finding a family in need and shopping for them together or helping an older woman with her lawn or house repairs.
Another idea for bonding with children is to donate things your kids are not using. Most kids have more toys and books than they need. Have them go through their stuff and take it together to a Goodwill or a Salvation Army drop-off location.
My kids liked doing a lemonade stand in the summer. Have them donate a few of those dollars to someone in need. Teach tithe and offerings with their earned money.
RELATED: How to Raise a Kind Child: 17 Ways to Love Others
Why Are Strong Family Bonds Important?
Strong family bonds are important because they are built on a foundation of unconditional love, creating a robust and healthy child.
When family members accept each other for who they are, including their strengths and weaknesses, they feel secure in other relationships.
Remember that building strong family bonds is an ongoing process that requires effort and commitment from all family members.
Creating a loving and supportive environment can strengthen the bonds between you and your children, fostering a sense of security and belonging in the family.
When you are connected, passing your faith down to the next generation will be easier.
How do you strengthen family bonds at your house? Comment below.
Check out podcasts featuring Julie’s story.
Is Your Marriage Struggling? Do You Want to Change Your Spouse?
Get Marriage Interrupted: How to Deal with Unexpected Conflict as a Couple and Stay in Love on Amazon or any digital platform. This book has humorous and impactful insights for anyone experiencing marriage conflict.
Included is biblical advice to help couples develop new behaviors and strengthen their marriage with healthy boundaries. With over 30 years of marriage experience, there are practical tips to overcome old behavior patterns and rekindle a marriage relationship rooted in God’s love.
Got Family Problems? There is Help and Hope!
Are you experiencing family problems or an estrangement? Do you feel shame, anger, or rejection? Check out my book Estranged: Finding Hope When Your Family Falls Apart on Amazon or at your favorite digital store.
This book not only talks about my seven-year estrangement (and reconciliation) from my Christian family but also gives solid tips to help you with your family problems. Break free from your pain. Allow God to heal you no matter what has happened in your family of origin. There is hope when your family falls apart.
Creating Family Memories Book
Get Creating Family Memories. It’s only .99 cents! This book will help you manage your family so that you have more time to be intentional with your kids. It includes a schedule, too. You can get it at your favorite digital bookstore.
Join the group Christian Family Living on Facebook
Continue the conversation on Facebook and join the Christian Family Living group. This is a place for Christian women to freely talk about parenting, marriage, faith, family, and culture. Being a Christian is hard! Let’s do it together. Most of all, a sense of humor is required. Got memes? Bring it on!
Follow Me on Pinterest!
There are Pinterest tips on Christian family living, marriage advice, spiritual growth, and mom life. Free Printables!
21 Comments
Pingback: Best parenting advice from real moms | A Heavenly Home
I love this! I am a mom to 3 kiddos and struggle with the relationship with my oldest. I love how you have broken down the different areas. My husband and I definitely need to work more on our relationship with the kids.
Sara, I hope this information will help you with the relationship with your oldest. It is important to get to your child’s heart as soon as possible. It will help you diffuse problems if there is a relationship at the foundation.
This is great! It’s so important to spend time with your kids and also to teach them about God and love and how important they are. Thank you for the reminder.
Judy, yes, it is important to get to your child’s heart and build a relationship with him. A relationship with your child is the foundation for good parenting. Thanks for reading.
Great post! I especially love doing the activities they choose. Of course in my house it is usually some sort of craft! I have a craft room and so they will usually want to make t-shirts or tumblers and my 16 year old just started learning to sew. We have the best conversations and they are learning as well. They enjoy it so much!
Diane, doing things together like a craft is so great for casual conversation. What a great thing you have done. This is a sure way to get to your child’s heart through a relationship. You won’t be sorry you took time out to be with them.
The best advice I was given about car time was: when you are driving your kids and friends around, turn the radio off and just listen. Don’t respond– just listen. It’s amazing what you learn about your kids when you do that
Yes! I did this. I learned a whole lot. It is amazing what kids will say. My daughter caught on so she would start texting her friends while in the car! Ha ha. She was smart.
I never thought of teacher and coaches learning my child’s learning style but it’s so true! Thank you for these tips. We’re working on dinner times right now and I really want to start devotional times, too.
Yes! I did this. I learned a whole lot. It is amazing what kids will say. My daughter caught on so she would start texting her friends while in the car! Haha. She was smart.
Love this. I think the busyness of life makes us forget how to be close with our children sometimes. Great info. Thanks for sharing
Danielle, it is easy to get busy with life and forget that we have precious children who need us to spend time with them. I wrote this post because I know how fast life goes. It is important to get to your child’s heart and help him to see that love is about a relationship. Rules are important but the foundation needs to be in place to make the rules worth keeping.
Thank you for sharing these great ideas. Wish I had these when my kids were younger. I have been consistent still in the area of going to church, so lots of time to connect. We also have our goofy time at home of sharing. Bless your heart.
Sounds like you did a great job with your kids. You figured out how to spend good time with them and instill values and morals too. Thanks for reading.
I love how you broke this down. Dead time is a great time to talk with kids that often gets overlooked. I love talking then because we are both in a place where we can’t leave and do something else. I love that you mentioned that. Dinner is important here. My husband isn’t always home. Dinner time is important. We try to talk about each of our days and what happened. Thank you Rachel from Explore Kid Talk
Rachel, I am so glad you practice these tips. I think a lot of these are common sense. We have just gotten so busy we have forgotten these family habits. Thanks for your comment.
I love this post being a teacher and all. You’re right about having a relationship. We need to invest more in people if we want to have greater impact in their lives, whether they are our kids, students or any others that God has placed within our circle of influence.More blessings on your ministry in Jesus’ name.
I am so glad you validate this strategy. It is always nice to have another teacher weigh in when I write posts about education. I know there are so many ways to reach a child, but it all comes back to a relationship. Thanks for your comment.
These are wonderful ideas and have given me a lot to think about! I’m a homeschool Mama of 3 and although I’m with them ALL the time, sometimes I struggle to connect with them. Thank you for sharing!
I homeschooled for a while. It was tough. You are so busy just trying to get the lessons done and everything else that connection sometimes seems moot since they are with you all day. Perhaps just stepping away and going to get ice cream or something is enough to have some downtime to talk. Many blessings on you for your huge sacrifice.