Family time is so important. We believe it, you believe it, but do we really know why? You might be thinking, well, because it feels good and makes you happy! Or maybe you’re thinking that it’s just because you’ve always been told that it’s good for you, so you just do it. None of those reasons are wrong! But since practicing intentional parenting and striving to raise responsible adults is so incredibly important to us, we read up on a few specific reasons why quality time spent together as a family is beneficial for everyone.

Before we dive in, we want to mention one of our most popular blog posts that goes hand-in-hand with this one. We have a relatively big family with us plus our four kids. Carson is 15, Austin is 14, Dylan just turned 12, and Evie is 5 (going on 13 😆). With so many people and such a wide range of ages, you might not be surprised that spending time with all together can be a challenge. When we do, it’s beautiful! But it is rare to find an activity that everyone can enjoy, which is a big reason we take our kids on dates individually and together. If you haven’t read our blog on monthly one-on-one dates with our kids, you should definitely check it out. 

Moving right along! Here are five benefits to spending quality family time together!

1. Strengthen the Bond

This one is pretty obvious, but it’s hard to feel close or connected with your family members if you don’t spend time together. It’s also important to point out that it’s not just about being in the same space. If you’re not intentional about the time you spend together, you won’t be doing much to strengthen that bond. Engaging in activities like games, hobbies, or even just intentional conversation will add structure and value to your family time.

A strong family bond helps family members feel like a cohesive unit full of people they trust and care about that they can rely on. It creates an invaluable support system. When people feel like they can rely on their family they will experience a feeling of comfort and safety that will have a positive ripple effect throughout their lives.

2. Set Good Examples

We love this because it’s a huge part of why we do what we do with our kids every day. In our quest to raise healthy, happy, responsible adults, one of the things we can’t help but think about is what kind of parents they will be someday, and how we can model that for them right now. Part of staying involved in our kids’ lives is intentionally spending quality time together and actively loving, nurturing, and guiding them. We are both lucky enough to have parents who were involved in our lives and we want to keep paying that forward.

3. Improve Communication

We all know how important communication is in every relationship in our lives. But that’s never more true than within the family. All we want to do is support one another the best we can, but if we don’t know what the other person needs, how can we do that effectively? In spending time together, we learn how to communicate effectively and respectfully. Quality time with family also provides a safe environment so everyone is more likely to be open and honest about what they need, why they need it, and how we can all work together to achieve that. Even if someone is facing a problem that can’t be resolved immediately, a safe space to talk and a listening ear can make all the difference.

4. Encourage Self-Confidence

Another benefit of spending time together is improved self confidence. This is true for everyone, including both children and adults! If everyone in the family is just communicating in passing moments and focused on their own lives, it’s hard for anyone to feel like they are a valuable part of the unit as a whole. By investing time and energy into nurturing those relationships and demonstrating interest in one another’s lives, we naturally feel more seen, heard, and appreciated. This attention gives the self confidence they need to be successful in all areas of their lives, both inside and outside of the home.

5. Conflict Resolution Skills

Problem solving and conflict resolution are skills we need throughout our lives. Unless you’re blessed with an angelic family that never argues or disagrees, you know that spending time together often requires those exact skills. Something that is really cool about disagreeing with family is that at the end of the day, we still always want what’s best for one another. With that in mind, quality time with family is one of the safest spaces for practicing skills like conflict resolution. This could be guided practice such as role-playing, but usually it will come naturally when the inevitable argument takes place. In these situations, family members will need to draw on their own skills to solve problems. But they will have the added benefit of a safe space to take steps towards understanding the other person’s point of view.

Time for a Secret

This is probably not so secret if you have ever had family photos taken. Or if you’ve taken a long car ride with family. Or if you’ve done an Escape the Room together… Alright, you get the picture! But we’re going to share anyway because it’s important to us that you know that spending time with family can be tricky and you’re not alone. Here we go.

Behind every single one of our family photos, which we usually do once or twice a year, there are four kids pushing, shoving, whining, and begging to be set free. Plus, there is SO much eye-rolling! We as parents do our best to stay calm and emulate all those great parenting tips we love sharing, but we aren’t perfect. We get frustrated, disappointed, and are definitely not above bribing our kids with a special dessert or activity in exchange for their cooperation. 

So why am I telling you this?

Well, if we didn’t spend as much time together as a family as we do, we might be totally lost on how to manage the situation. We know which of our kids are more likely to step up as peacekeepers, which ones need more direction or space, and which ones we simply need to pray will be in a good mood. We also know each other well enough to tell when we need the other parent to step in. This all comes from practice! We get that practice by eating dinner, playing games, going to church, and traveling – all together! We truly make it a priority to spend time together and know one another.