Favorite Thing to Do with a Family - Essay Example

I enjoy typical everyday fun time activities like board games, watching television, and gardening when done together as a family. Not only are they inexpensive, but are also home-based. Studies have shown that such activities are in direct proportion to a family’s cohesion (Zabriskie & McCormick 282). Flower gardening is fun because it exhibits joint efforts by each family member in beautifying a home. We even enjoy a fresh vegetable meal from the produce of a home vegetable garden. There is a marked increase in appetite when the food we serve has been picked by the family from the garden.

  Board games present direct challenges between individuals taking turns, and they have a fun way of sharpening intellect. Time we spend together watching quality television, excluding explicit content, is educating and gives interesting topics to discuss later when it is not television time. Having dinner with the whole family at the table is enjoyable. This has also been proven through research to be beneficial to the youth. Those that regularly have dinner with the whole family present, including parents, are at lesser danger of engaging in substance abuse (Zabriskie & McCormick 283).

Outside the home, picnic activities in the local parks and camping sites provide great fun. They offer a different environment to appreciate the family company. The younger children enjoy flying homemade kites on windy days. The kites are always made with their contribution to coloring and decorating. For teens and adults, there are other activities including volleyball, racquet games like badminton, and more muscular events like tug of war. Participation for the sake of fun and not who wins or loses makes it all the more enjoyable.

There is nothing to compete for other than liking the fact that you are making a family member happy. An added advantage is the fact that children who spent time away from home participating in sporting activities with their parents have been known to have better academic performances than their peers who do not (Zabriskie & McCormick 283). Preparing snacks and lunch on such picnics is also an enjoyable activity on its own. Everyone has their pre-defined roles to play and, within a short while each person is serving out paper plates of whatever they prepared.

Each member ends up having a bite from everyone else. The day at the park is always energy-draining for a good cause and ends with snacks and juices accompanied by relaxing music played from the car stereo. Another favorite is visiting my grandparents in the countryside during school holidays. The fun starts right from packing the bags. Our parents help us choose what to carry along with us. At that time, I realize even the attire to be worn in the countryside differs from what we wear in the cities.

The journey through the city traffic is hectic as we head out of town. Excitement runs high with everyone eager for when we will arrive. Driving through the woods in the peaceful countryside has a relaxing effect and a difference in the air can already be felt. Dad and mom explain all the changes we see on the way since the last time we went visiting. Finally, arriving at the entrance to the farm, we all jump out at the gate with the exception of Dad who has to drive all the way. We all enjoy smelling and picking flowers along the driveway.

Climbing apple trees has never been more fun than in the countryside. We already have half our fun of the day even before meeting our grandparents. One of the happiest moments in life is when both grandparents bundle us, their grandchildren, into one big hug. It is the warmest welcome, as well as creating a sense of belonging even before the stay begins. The younger ones look forward to storytime at the fireplace after dinner, while the adults enjoy music outside under the stars. I also enjoy milking the cows in the morning and pushing the buckets to the roadside where they are collected by a delivery truck.

Time spent together helps in bonding and appreciating each other’s presence in our lives. As youths, it is important to note that studies have shown that youths who do activities, communicate, and have close relationships with parents and other family members are less prone to engage in violence (Zabriskie & McCormick 283).