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The concept of the family bond is something that can be bigger than the family itself. Sometimes, there are siblings that fight and there can be times when we all feel that we’re not doing our best as fathers. The fact is that a strong family is something we’ve all got to work at. The most effective way to improve relationships and actually prevent behavioral issues within our families is to focus on strengthening the family bond. Families that spend more time together will increase their sense of identity and strengthen sibling relationships, while also making it easier to deal with conflict, and, of course, it will help everybody feel happier and more secure. So what does it really take to help solidify a family bond? 

Getting a Pet

There are many reasons why pets are excellent for families; pets can decrease allergies, and encourage a healthier lifestyle, but they can also help families to build bonds. Animals can be the focus of family activities, from grooming, feeding, and walking the dog. All of these tasks are simple but very enjoyable, so everybody can enjoy each other’s company. If you are looking for the right pet, there are many options out there, including a lab retriever. On https://chocolatelabradorretriever.ca/lab-retrievers-toronto/, you can find some lab retrievers. But the fact is that for many families, the pet is there as a welcome distraction from the fact that they necessarily have things in common. Some families don’t have things in common, and this is not a bad thing, but a pet can be that invisible glue. 

Preparing Meals Together

Cooking is one of those precious activities that can do a lot for families. Preparing meals, from the chopping and cooking to the cleaning up gives everybody a sense of responsibility and order in a household. Every single person has an understanding that they are contributing to something that keeps the family house going. Everybody can benefit from helping out but sometimes children don’t necessarily want to, which is why we have to start early. Allowing your children time in the kitchen can do a lot for their sense of self it helps them to be more creative but you can also get them interested in healthier habits. 

In addition to cooking meals together, eating together can help to solidify a bond. So many families are busy and don’t have the same quality time together, which is why it’s a good idea for families to at least eat together once every day. Everybody coming together for the family meal allows everybody the option to engage in conversation if necessary but there are also benefits to eating regular meals together; in fact, children who spend time at the dinner table with their families are less likely to display behavioral issues. 

Reading Together

There have been countless studies on the benefits of reading to children at a young age, not least in terms of their cognitive development. It may seem like a very “Waltons” thing to do, but reading together is an amazing way to connect as a family. The benefits of reading together can be found at https://markhampubliclibrary.ca/blogs/post/9-reasons-why-you-should-read-together-as-a-family/. 

One of the best things you can do is to take it in turns as a family to read a chapter, or you can come up with something that suits your family dynamic. Alternatively, everybody can get together in the same space and read their own book. A family that spends time together focusing on their own thing is still spending time together! As fathers, we may feel that we’re not having that quality time, but we’ve got to remember that we shouldn’t force it. As long as you’re spending time together, this can be the perfect starting point. 

Have a Party

If you have a party for your immediate family members, this can be an amazing way to promote bonding. The benefit of having a party where you are bringing a couple of other people in from outside the family unit can be an eye-opener for your child. Children can sometimes view us from a very particular point of view: that we’re not cool enough or we don’t know enough or  don’t understand them. So if we bring one of their friends into the mix and we engage with them in a certain way, it could help our children understand that we’re not what they think we are. In fact, it could make our children appreciate us more. 

But despite this, having a party can help to take the pressure off. Make sure that you organize something for each family member to enjoy, whether this is different types of music or games, if everybody takes the opportunity to organize something that they have an interest in, as long as everybody has that same enthusiasm for everybody else’s activities, this doesn’t just promote the bonding, but also gives us insight into their current tastes. Our children can easily chop and change their interests, which is why it’s so important to keep up-to-date. 

Family Meetings

While many would argue that this doesn’t promote family bonds because it can take a very negative turn, the reality is that family meetings can bring everybody together in one place. A forum such as a family meeting can be invaluable because it allows people to talk about their feelings without being judged, but it also can help with family negotiation and mediation skills. 

When it comes to bonding with the family there are many things you can do to share quality time with each other, but here are a few other things to bear in mind: 

• Keep it simple. You may be chomping at the bit to try and get your family to be closer together, but you need to pick activities that you won’t regret. This means you’ve got to stick to the interests of your family as a unit. 
• Don’t try to do something daily if you cannot. Instead, opt for weekly or monthly, or even annual activities. 

If something isn’t working out, try another approach. The fact is that if you want to improve that family bond, it’s not going to happen overnight. Make time, but give it time.