What is your ritual for shifting to a “weekend mindset”? It is important that children love school days, but also that they appreciate and value the weekend as well. It could be going out for smoothies, it could be listening to a favorite song, it could be the “Friday hike,” it could be a “surprise,” but if you don’t have something yet, try something that works for you and your family.

Ritual has amazing power to shift moods and patterns. A ritual around the start of the weekend can enhance joy in your family.

All of your children may be involved in daily sports activities, but for many families, for many reasons, this is not the case. There are many ways to make this happen. For example, you can create a “30 minute rule” that applies to both screens and homework. Once you have been sitting and watching or sitting and working for 30 minutes you have to break for an exercise routine. This could include jumping jacks, pushups, and situps (or alternate core activities) or it might be something like 5-10 minutes of yoga or jump rope.

Another way to get daily movement is to include it early (before it gets dark) and then schedule time for more sedentary activities later. Go for a walk before dinner if you can! Many children now associate physical activity with organized sports. While organized sports have a lot to offer, opting out should not mean opting out of daily physical movement. Support your children by talking with them to find out their exercise interests, but hold the line on requiring daily exercise. Healthy body. Healthy mind. Healthy life.

Have you been longing for a little peace and quiet in your house? Are screens dominating the free time? When was the last time you had a chance to read a good book? Family reading time is a solution to so many problems we can’t list them all here. It does take discipline, largely on the part of the adults, to stop doing ‘everything we have to do’ and join in the reading for 15-30 minutes. It is amazing how much influence we have over our children, but our primary mode of influence is through modeling - thus the importance of reading at home at a time when kids can see it. Family reading time also leads to many conversations about the books as children see what adults read and adults see what the children read.

Some ways to make family reading time extra special are to stick to a routine (give it high value in scheduling), help your child choose books through conversation (but let your child own the choice), turn off distractions (screens, music, etc.), and show appreciation for both your children and your own opportunity to read. In other words, make it clear from your actions that family reading time matters - and that it can be a special time for everyone.

At the Joyful Learning Network we highlighted the importance of family dinners in a recent JLN newsletter, but it is worth bringing back as an FTIP because it is so important. Modern life in America is hectic, but setting a standard (or at least a routine) for family dinners can pay off in a number of ways:

- helping create a stable environment for your children
- helping establish a healthy lifestyle
- helping with your child’s health and nutrition
- providing an opportunity for discussion and getting to know each other
- letting your kid/s know that you want to spend time with them
… and so much more.

There are many terrific resources for family dinners, again a few of these are highlighted in weekly wave #5 - check it out!