How Modern Canadian Families Can Bond Together This Winter

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post to help encourage you to get outside this winter with your family. That’s what family fun is all about!

In an era of increased social media usage and so much isolation due to technology, it’s perhaps more important than ever for families to find opportunities to bond. The benefits of family bonding are well-documented, from helping build a sense of community and communication with the home to reinforcing personal relationships and beyond.

You may think that you don’t need to make a conscious effort to bond with your spouse and children, but ask yourself: what are you doing to make memories with your family that will last a lifetime? Are you instilling values and taking every opportunity to enrich the lives of your children through quality family time?

Thankfully, bonding doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg, nor does it require some sort of lavish vacation.

Simply step outside.

After all , when we think of “bonding,” we often think of the great outdoors, don’t we?

Given the myriad of outdoor activities and diverse climate of Canada, there’s perhaps no better place to find opportunities to get out there and make some memories this winter.

Consider the following ways that you can spend quality time with your family, regardless of which province you’re in.

Simple Pleasures

Before strapping on your boots and stepping out into the snow, consider the fact that some days snowed in are inevitable if you’re in an area susceptible to the bitter winter. That being said, it’s the quiet days indoors that perhaps matter the most when it comes to bonding, especially as you’re tasked with entertaining one-another with no distractions. You can foster an environment at home which ensures that your family stays happy and healthy indoors, including:

• Letting some light indoors: solutions such as sheer blinds can allow you to easy peek outside with your family and simply enjoy the view, meanwhile avoiding your home from feeling too dark or dimly lit
• Fore-go the gadgets: consider a board game or reading a book with your children rather than vegging out in front of the television or your smart phones
• Spend time in the kitchen: if you can’t go outside, there’s perhaps no better collaborative, bonding activity than a home-cooked meal

Fun in the Snow

You don’t have to scale a mountain in order to enjoy the great outdoors. Consider the “small stuff” that can help you bond with your family, such as a building a snowman or a simple snowball fight. Such activities are ideas for those with small children who perhaps can’t trek too far outside the comfort of home.

Take a Hike

Strapped for cash but still looking to bond? No problem.

Canada is home to a wealth of hiking trails that won’t cost you more than the trip there. A peaceful walk through nature, taking in the sights and sounds of the Great White North, may indeed do more to bring your family together than a costly outing. Simply make sure that you dress in layers and don’t wear your kids out on the trail: after all, you want them to go home happy, not miserable.

The Truly Great Outdoors

Winter sports and outdoor activities are cornerstones of Canadian living. If it’s within your budget, consider finding the perfect ski spot or do something simple as tubing with the little ones. After all, your kids won’t forget the first time they hit the slopes or slide down a hill, so strive to make such memories count.

Do everything you can to make sure you make memories with your family this holiday season. After all, Canadian families have seemingly endless opportunities to bond given the abundance of outdoor activities and the country’s beautiful climate.

The question remains: what will you do with your family this winter?

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