Quality Family Time

Life gets crazy sometimes and between the day-to-day tasks of caregiving, managing work, school, kids, and their schedules, it can be easy to let quality time with family slide amidst the chaos. However, this quality time is important for caregivers and aging loved ones alike, and can have some great benefits for everyone in the family.

So, put some time in your calendar on the Avanlee App, grab your family and start spending some fun time together this season.

Make time together a habit

It’s easy to let prioritizing family time slip, especially when you’re already busy managing so many other things. However, spending quality family time (not related to regular caregiving tasks) can make all of the difference for your aging loved one. Here are some of our favorite ways to spend some quality family time together, and take a break from the never-ending checklist we all have. 

Make some crafts

I love crafts both as an introverted self-care activity and as a great family bonding activity. Crafts by Amanda has a great list of crafts you can make with your loved ones at any time of the year. She has a great section of holiday crafts that are inexpensive, easy to make, and a fun way to spend time with your family working on something fun together. Depending on the weather, you can set up a craft table on your back porch and spend some time outside together and make something beautiful. My personal favorites are her easy fleece blanket (you can never have too many blankets!), and the wine bottle vases. There’s something for everyone! 

Bird Watching

Bird watching is an easy and inexpensive way to spend time together, and it’s easy to get started! The Audubon Society has an amazing guide for getting started birdwatching and has practical options for everyone, from beginners to seasoned pros. You can even use their Bird Guide online to get started learning about the birds (and their calls!) in your area without having to leave your house. If you get outside, take pictures of the birds you see and post them in your family feed on the Avanlee App! A personal favorite is the Western Meadowlark! 

Build Friendship

Finally, a great way to enjoy some family time with your aging loved ones is to pour a cup of tea (or your 17th cup of coffee for the day if you’re my dad) and spend some time in friendly conversation. You can learn about their childhood, or even fill out a journal prompt together to facilitate conversation, save family stories, and learn more about one another. Not every moment of quality time needs to be an outdoor bird-watching excursion or even a day of arts and crafts. Sometimes just sitting down together and having great conversations is an amazing way to strengthen your bonds, learn something new, and enjoy one another’s company.

Finally, there is no one right or wrong way to spend quality time with your family! As long as you’re prioritizing spending intentional time with your loved ones, it doesn’t matter what you are doing as long as you’re all enjoying yourselves and making sure to spend some time together, the rest is a fun bonus. No matter what you decide to do, put some time in your calendar on the Avanlee App, grab your family and start spending some fun time together – no matter what that might look like for you and yours.