7 Ideas for Making Memories With Your Child (ages 8 to 12)
Have you been noticing how fast your child is growing up? Making memories with your pre-teen child is an important way to establish a bond that helps you weather the teen years and also gives you a chance to develop healthy lifetime habits. Here are 7 ideas for making memories:
1. Cook Together
Try out some family recipes and teach healthy choices. Help your child develop some important life skills as they learn to cook, plan family meals and grocery shop. Work with them to create their own book of special recipes.
2. Play Sports
Playing in your backyard as a family or one-on-one can be a great way to bond with your child and teach lifetime fitness. Promote a healthy interest in lifelong sports by playing golf or tennis together.
3. Cheer the Home Team
Make rooting for your favorite team a family event. Go to games when you can, and watch them together when you can’t. Teach your child to develop hospitality by hosting sports event parties in your home.
4. Volunteer Together
Working together for a cause can help your child develop compassion and empathy. Sign up to help at an animal shelter, visit a nursing home or help an elderly neighbor.
5. Take Vacations
Travel by car, or camp and hike to make time for talking together. By learning about the history, geography and culture of the places you visit, you can help your child develop a deeper understanding of the subjects they study in school.
6. Use Music
Establish a lifelong interest in music by playing instruments or singing together. Record your efforts and have fun watching them. Don’t play? Try looking up Karaoke music to favorite songs, and get the family together to sing along!
7. Game Night
Playing board and card games together can create memories that last. Pick one night a week to set aside to play your favorite games or learn new ones. Playing games can teach children to work on a team, learn how to lose, and develop strategies.
Finally, make sure you preserve your memories by taking photos and videos of your family time together. Spend time reminiscing and preserving those memories by working together to make photo albums that will keep your memories for a lifetime!