Young people want and deserve parents and a family they can be proud of.
Studies show that family routines such as: chores, bedtime, dinner time, birthdays, holiday celebrations and other family activities are linked to marital satisfaction, children's sense of identity, educational achievement, better health and an overall stronger family relationship. Family routines reinforce the bond between family members and nurture positive feelings. Routines keep the family emotionally close and supportive of each other. A close family has its own regular routine with each member in charge of something. It is important for everyone to follow a daily pattern. These routines make the family stable emotionally and there is an overall sense of unity. Having these daily routines makes the family capable of handling life's challenges and it helps with coping with stress more easily.

What are some daily routines that build family relationships?

Have mealtime together
Eating together as a family is a great time to build those family relationships. This is the time for each individual to talk about their day and share it with the other members. It is also a time to tell stories and talk about concerns or any trouble they have been having.

Give out chores
Giving children specific chores or tasks throughout the day helps them feel important and it gives them a sense of pride knowing they can accomplish such things. It will make them happy to see that you are proud of them.

Set a bedtime
It is good to have consistency around the house. It has been shown that kids with a set bedtime actually go to bed earlier and sleep better through the night, then those without one. Make bedtime fun; read to them, sing songs, tell stories about your childhood. This will bond you closer together and it will be a time your children look forward to.

Family traditions
Family traditions may be one of the most important things that bond families together. It could be a simple tradition such as: singing at bedtime, making cookies for a friend or neighbor on Sundays, or setting aside one night a week to share experiences that happened that week and so on. Or you can have more in depth traditions such as: being together on holidays, singing Christmas carols on Christmas Eve, doing an Easter egg hunt every Easter with the neighborhood kids or family members. Establishing traditions will help your children feel that they belong to something that is special and important. It gives them something to look forward to every day or every year.

Here are some other activities that help build family relationships:
You could write regularly to someone far away, make a family scrapbook, make up and play a game, have treats after an activity, have a night of singing, have a hobby night, or each week take turns reading favorite book to each other, have a family night (this is where you could watch movies, eat pizza, do karaoke or dance), and even exercise together. Do things together, and discuss the next week's activities to give them something to look forward to. This will build enthusiasm and positive energy for family time together.

Once you have discussed some routines that exist in your family, then write out a schedule. You don't have to follow it perfectly everyday, but if you set a schedule then everyone knows about it, and you will be more likely to follow it.

Have fun with your kids during your daily routines. Enjoy your kids, their activities, their talents and embrace being a family. The best family time memories are often those just spent together as a group, sharing jokes and stories, eating together, and having fun. Taking time in building family relationships by establishing daily routines will make your family a closer and happier one. Start your daily routines today; you'll be glad you did!