In this issue: fun activities to encourage family growth; including a conversation starter jar, staycation fun, and local adventures
School is almost here, but there are still a couple of weeks to enjoy the outdoors and summer sun! We hope that these guides have provided inspiration for your family to bond and enjoy each other’s company.
Asking Adventures
QUESTION JAR
Take a jar or other container and put it in a common area of your house. Keep a pad of paper and pens and pencils next to it. When someone thinks of a question they’d like to ask the family, they write it down and put it in the jar. Then at family mealtime, draw one or two questions from the jar and listen to the answers from each family member. Ideal questions will cause family members to think about their responses and start conversation around those responses. It’s a good idea to always have a few questions available in the jar, so here are a few to get you started:
- What was the best part of your day? What was the most challenging part of your day?
- Which member of our family do you think is the funniest? Why?
- If you were alone on an island and could only have one thing for entertainment and one food to sustain you, what would you choose?
- What is your favorite book of the Bible? Why?
- Tell us something about you that might surprise us.
- What is one thing you’ve done that you think no one else in our family has done?
- If you had to choose between living in space or living under the ocean, which would you choose, and why?
Home Adventures
STAYCATION FUN
As a family, pick a destination that interests everyone; since this will be a staycation, you can pick an entire country or continent, if you like! Assign the following projects to family members or teams based on interest and ability:
- Food: This team should find recipes for foods local to your destination, shop for those items, and cook them for the family. Think about how you eat on vacation, so consider an appetizer, main course, and dessert. Think about what the locals might drink with their dinner. The goal should be to cook something new for the family, so even if your destination is “Mexico,” try recipes for something you don’t normally have for dinner. The more authentic it is, the better!
- Tours and attractions: This team decorates and learns about the local attractions of your destination. Finding photographs that can hang around the house or yard, posters, etc. Learn as much as you can about the attractions you choose and recreate them to the best of your ability. Be sure that everyone dresses appropriately for the attraction and then take your family on a guided tour through you you learned. Slide shows are the easiest option, but let your imagination run free. For example, if “Hawaii” is your destination, make leis for everyone, find a hula skirt or two, light tiki torches, play sounds of the ocean in the background. The more immersive the tour, the better!
- Entertainment (music, theater, etc.): Some coordination with the tours and attractions team might be appropriate here, but the entertainment team provides the entertainment during or after the meal. It could be as simple as watching a TV show or movie from your destination (subtitled options are best so you can hear the native language, if it’s not English), or as complex as re-enacting a play. Select a playlist consistent with your destination and have it playing during dinner.
Then give the family a few days to complete their projects. And have a staycation one night in your living room or backyard. It’s a fun way to get the experience of going somewhere (and learning more about it than you might otherwise) without the expense!
Local Adventures
SOUTH PLATTE RIVER TRAIL
This is a great trail for a casual walk or bike in town. This multi-purpose track runs from Englewood to Thornton, with many places to stop along the way. It’ll give you a unique perspective of the Metro area, much different from driving in your car.
LAIR O’ THE BEAR PARK (15 miles from FRCS)
This is a great hike for families, as there is a lot of shade, and the terrain is mostly level. Dogs on a leash are welcome, and there are several places to stop for a picnic. It’s an easy, close option for families with young children or grandparents wanting to hike together.
