If you would like to read more about Shari and her three boys, please feel free to visit her blog, The Knit Wit by Shair.
When the fall rolls around, we tend to head indoors, and back to family routines. Sometimes, our family life can be so busy that we forget to make memories. I think it is easier in the summer to fit in family time and memory making because we are taking trips, or just hanging outside as a family.
When we are indoors, we have to remember to make a point of having family time. Also, as parents, we have to remember that we don’t have to spend a lot of money, or go to the newest hot spot to create lasting memories. Some of my best memories from my childhood are just hanging out as a family. The times my Dad played skipping with us girls, or the family played board games around the table.
Here are some ideas we use at our house to create memories:
- Root, root, root for the home team! How about watching a sporting event together. Yes, it’s watching tv, but family bonding can be rooting for the same team, or rooting against the other family member’s team as long as it is a friendly rivalry. Watching NASCAR is my one of my top hobbies, so when my guys watch with me it brings us together. And watching the Toronto Blue Jays with my Dad used to bring us together as a family when I was young.
- Play board games together. Games are a great thing to get the competitive juices flowing, and can also get you working together as a team. Some serious family bonding and memories can be created for your kids by sitting around laughing and playing together. Mattel has some great games to try like Card N Go Seekâ„¢ and Bounce-Offâ„¢.
- Create crafts together. From finger painting to “stained glass” leaf creations, there are so many possibilities of awesome creations you all can make together. These will not only create lasting memories, but make creations you can hang up to trigger those memories.
- Learn a new hobby craft together. Knitting is a great thing to learn or teach your kids. The art of learning will create memories, as well as the times you are working side by side in the future.
- And if all else fails, family movie night is a great way to create fun family memories! Let someone pick the movie, and create a snack table of goodies, grab some blankets, snuggle up together and just be a family.
What do you do to create memories with your family?
We are a member of the Mattel Play Advocates program. As a member, we receive various perks, however our opinions are never influenced in any way.
We love movie nights or game nights (especially with friends!)
My sister started up a games night with some friends – sounds like a lot of fun!
We enjoy watching sporting events and taking the opportunity to go to a game when possible. Rooting for the Blue Jays!!!
Florence C
Great family memories of watching sports – do you all cheer for the same team?
so many great suggestions and this year with the Jays doing well woot!
Well, I’m getting to this a wee bit late – the Jays did do really well – my son dressed up as Pillar for Halloween! I was proud of him that he was still excited to dress up as a Jay!
We love playing board games and making crafts with leaves.
Leaf crafts are so much fun!
We are definitely making lots of memories this fall. With two new grandchildren there is so much to do! I can’t wait to take them out to play in the leaves and walk out the breakwater! My daughter, husband and I will play lots of board games, watch movies and sleep when possible lol
Two new grandchildren – FUN! How old are they?
One is almost 8 months and the other is 3 months and another is coming in November!!
One is almost 8 months and the other is 3 months and another is coming in November!!
I love playing board games with my kids. My son is really into backgammon lately!
My goodness – I haven’t played that in YEARS! That was a game we played up at the cottage in the summers when I was a kid – thanks for bringing back an amazing memory.
When my girls were younger we did a lot of crafts starting in the Fall, it was fun for them to make homemade gifts for Birthdays and Christmas, in fact I still have my art tote full of art supplies and now I just need to wait for the grandkids to get older!!
Super fun – you’re an amazing grandmother!
Every second weekend we spend doing crafts or games or cooking depending on what the grandkids choose to do
Oh yes! We love to involve the kids in cooking too 🙂
Now that our children are adults, we try to celebrate birthdays together. We also get together at Christmas Eve and their father’s birthday. We usually have some of our adult family in to visit at least two or more times a week. I usually have something good to have with tea or milk. These are all family memories. We d discuss the grandchildren and the great grand’s latest doings.
It is always a special time when any of our large family visit us.
Fantastic that you continue to celebrate and create family memories, even though your children are grown.
There is nothing more fun or delightful than crafting with kids.My kids are grown up now but I still enjoy the fun with my grandchildren and they never cease to amaze me with their ideas.
Children are so creative, aren’t they?
There is nothing more fun or delightful than crafting with kids.My kids are grown up now but I still enjoy the fun with my grandchildren and they never cease to amaze me with their ideas.
We have been adding ‘fall’ nature to our craft time. Every afternoon we go for a walk. Lately we’ve been collecting leaves and twigs. We’ve preserved leaves, made leaf glitter, nature collages. Lots of fun and great memories!
That sounds like a lot of fun! My kids often collect things on their walks and we end up with a HUGE collection on our porch. I typically keep most nature outdoors because one year, my son brought home maggots inside of acorns – OY what a mess!
We have been adding ‘fall’ nature to our craft time. Every afternoon we go for a walk. Lately we’ve been collecting leaves and twigs. We’ve preserved leaves, made leaf glitter, nature collages. Lots of fun and great memories!
we spend evenings and weekends together and sometimes it’s something as simple as cuddling on the couch and sharing what happened that day. i love that my 12yo son still loves cuddling! makes me happy from the inside out 🙂
That is SO amazing that your 12 year old still loves to cuddle – keep up that connection! I will be thrilled if my now 7 year old still snuggles at the age of 12!
I agree, we need to find a way to create more memories! Thanks for reminding me of this.
Aww….you’re welcome!
This summer, we were lucky enough to have a friend with a cottage invite us (along with 3 other families) to their cottage and we made memories in July & August. We’ve continued into October. We will be going again in November and will be spending New Years together as well at the cottage. It’s a chance for all the families to unplug (for the most part) and make memories together.
That sounds like SO much fun, Nancy!
We pretty much do this all the time. I’m struggling to find something different.
You’re trying to find something different to do as a family? Oh, there are so many ideas! Are you thinking indoors or outdoors? Let’s brainstorm some!
It’s pretty much just me now at home, my girls are on their own and hubby works and then tows on the weekends, so I have the house to myself and get to do anything I want to, I miss doing crafts with the girls though, that was always fun!!
Crafts with the kids are always fun, yes!
I am going to help my kids paint rocks this afternoon. I love pained rocks! They will go into our garden! 🙂
I am going to help my kids paint rocks this afternoon. I love pained rocks! They will go into our garden! 🙂
My husband likes to build a fire in our outdoor fire pit. We gather the kids around to talk and watch the fire. Sometimes we roast marshmallows.
We find camping is a great way to make memories.. so many funny stories! We do a lot of movie & game nights, or play dancing games on the wii which is so fun.
We played a family game of “Cheat” last night. My kids love card games 🙂 Skippo and Uno are favourites too!
We played a family game of “Cheat” last night. My kids love card games 🙂 Skippo and Uno are favourites too!
We play a lot of board games as a family. Some of our favourites are Monopoly Jr, Uno and Sitting Ducks!
My daughter and enjoy board games
My daughter and I play our fav board games,
My daughter and I play our fav board games,
We love baking night best with the grandkids!
We love baking night best with the grandkids!
I used to love helping mum with the baking, not so much with peeling potatoes for potato pie though I did suffer through that too since it’s so delicious. Not one of my 7 ever showed any interest in cooking nor baking, now that they are all adults two of the boys are great cooks. 🙂
I used to love helping mum with the baking, not so much with peeling potatoes for potato pie though I did suffer through that too since it’s so delicious. Not one of my 7 ever showed any interest in cooking nor baking, now that they are all adults two of the boys are great cooks. 🙂
I love teaching the kids baking and cooking,we always have so much fun!