15 Ways To Raise A Healthy Family

1. No T.V. Dinners...That is, turn off the T.V. at dinner and talk. Try asking everyone to share what was the best, and the worst thing that happened today. Go around until everyone has had a chance to share.

2. Have your own family traditions... Think up things that you do every year around the holidays that can become traditions: carving the pumpkin, picking out the Christmas tree, or delivering cookies to the neighbors.

3. Saturday morning ride on the beach...Load up the kids and the bikes, and ride the bike trail. Take a picnic lunch, or stop off at one of the restaurants at the end of the Pier.

4. Lunch time Hero... Show up un-announced at your kid’s school with a couple of pizzas and a big bottle of their favorite drink. Walk up to their table with all their buddies, drop it off and see the eyes of all of them bigger than ever. Also be ready to be titled as the “coolest mom or dad ever!”

5. Family night one time a week...Fill the night with board games, or pick up a family devotional like “Home Builders” From your local Christian book store, and do some of the activities. Or pop in your favorite movie with everyone on the couch and watch it together…don’t forget the popcorn!

6. Pocket Change...save your pocket change at the end of every day, and save it up for month. At the end of the month, decide as a family what you are going to do with it. Send it off to the Red Cross, or a local mission, or give it to some you know who is in need.

7.Serve dinner at a mission...Look up in the Yellow Pages for a local mission and ask if you can come down a help serve dinner…they’re always in need of help during the Holidays.

8.Go camping in the Back yard...Set up the tent and bring out the sleeping bags… and don’t forget the “Sommores!”

9.Story time for Mom and Dad...Instead of you reading the story, have your kids read you a story and tuck you in for bed for the night. Then wait 5 minutes and run into their rooms and tuck them in.

10.Prayer for the day...Before everyone leaves for the day, gather around hug each other and pray for a good day, and to come back together safely at the end of the day.

11.Adopt a Grandparent...Call a local retirement home, and ask the management about people living there who never get any visitors…stop by after school one day and say “hi.”

12.Go to the movie again... You know when you go to a good movie and you walk out saying “that was great… I can hardly wait to see it again.” Well do it, go back in and see it again! Your kids will think you’re crazy, but they will never forget it!

13.Bible verse for the month... Pick out a short verse and memorize as a family every month. This is a great ways to keep God’s truth in your heart.

14.Date night with the kids... Dad, you take out your daughter, and Mom, you take out your son. It’s a great time to spend with your kids, and it will teach them what to expect in the future.

15.Christmas Goodies for the needy...pack up some cookies and maybe a small gift, and take the family to a nearby shelter and drop it off with a short visit with a family who is less fortunate than yours…make this a family tradition.

These are just some ideas that have come to us over the years that many of the Eastside families do on a regular basis. Take some and think of more things you can do as a family… every little bit you do together will make your family better!