For the last several weeks many of us have experienced a new kind of family togetherness as Covid-19 has forced us to huddle inside with our families. We find ourselves hunting for fun activities for our “littles” or thinking of ways to keep our college students from being bored that do not involve technology. (The challenge is keeping them off of their phone/computer when they are not working on school assignments.)

Some months ago I had the opportunity to create some family bonding with a fun activity to help our family step away from technology and to focus in on each other for a bit. I came up with this activity when our married son and his wife and our college daughter were home for a few days (well before the Corona pandemic), and I thought some of you may enjoy trying it with your own families.

This activity works for children over 7 or so all the way to adults as long as they have a basic grasp on reading and writing. You can be the judge of whether or not your own “littles” can do it.

First, gather around the table with some paper and pens or pencils. The name of the game is “Things I Love”! Designate one person to be the first “subject”. Give each family member (except the designated person)a piece of paper and a pencil. Everyone should make a list of 10 things that designated family member “loves”! It could be anything! Don’t give any parameters…it’s more fun that way! (chocolate, daddy, reading, planting flowers, me, the color red, etc.) After everyone has finished their lists they give them to the designated family member to read aloud. It’s so much fun to hear what everyone says! After that person reads them all, he/she can say who they think knows them best. (Be careful with the “littles'” feelings, of course!) Then it is another family member’s turn to be the “subject”. Each person takes a piece of paper and writes 10 things that person “loves”. Another take on this would be to mix up the papers and let the person try to figure out who wrote which list. We put our names on our lists, though, and didn’t do that. Don’t forget…the lists themselves are great keepsakes to file away and bring out some day in the future!

I hope this activity is as much fun for you as it was for us and that your family is a little closer (emotionally closer! No pun intended!) after doing it. Have fun and God bless!