5. Bonding time.
Find fun things to do to bridge the gap. The outdoors is ideal—the beach, the pool, camping, picnics, hiking, and movies! Yes, the teens will come full circle and admit to liking animated movies again. But also, make sure you carve out one-on-one time when you can. Everyone likes to feel special and have your full attention. I try to alternate “date” days between my girls and then have family days as well. Plan “date” days a week ahead of time. Even the time of creating a plan leads to great conversations about likes and dislikes while also building excitement and giving them something to look forward to.
6. Word of the Day.
Teens and tots can do this together. The words don’t have to be hard. We just read the definition of any word and use it properly in a sentence. Then we challenge each other to use the word throughout the day. This is a great vocabulary builder plus it makes kids think creatively and have fun at the same time!
7. Read! Read! Read!
I can’t stress enough how important it is for parents to read to and with kids. It’s vital to their vocabulary, language and memorization skills, and knowledge. My three-year-old and I read five books every morning with coffee and breakfast. I ask my teens what book they would like to read, and I read it with them. We check in on how many chapters per week, and the conversations surrounding the books’ ideas and themes are incredible.
8. Pray together.
The spiritual connection is extremely important for a teen, especially before they are about to embark on a life outside their home. Hope will be important, gratitude will be stabilizing, and faith will be essential in their new worlds. The foundation for this all starts in the early years. We pray every night before bed and list five things for which we are grateful. Our morning prayer mantra is: “good thoughts, kind words, strong heart.”
