Fun Fall Family Activities
by Courtney Lewis
The sound of a crackling fire always reminds me of those wonderful fall nights under the stars when I would go camping with my family. Autumn is the ultimate time of year for family bonding. According to a recent report by USA Today, 28% of Americans said they have been spending less time in the last year with members of their households than they have in previous years. The average amount of time these family members spent together in one month was 26 hours—that is barely more than one whole day! In order to get our society back on the track for family values, it is vital that we take the necessary steps to increasing the relationships within our families. Great activities for fall can include enjoyable experiences for kids and adults of all ages. By participating in activities like cooking tin foil dinners, going through corn mazes or even just hiking with your family members, families can strengthen their bonds while allowing plenty of opportunities for talking and expressing feelings.
When it comes to cooking a tin foil dinner, there are a few tips that you should be aware of. First of all, cover one side of your foil with a cooking spray so the food placed on it does not stick. Then, put meat on the bottom of your tin foil packs because meat takes the longest to cook. Other items that should be close to the outsides of the packets include raw, hard vegetables like potatoes and carrots. Onions belong in the middle of a tin foil dinner packet because they cook very quickly and if placed in the center of a pack, the onion will flavor the potatoes and meat nicely. Do not be afraid to use liquids in your foil dinners. Dressings, soups and sauces are an excellent way to add savor to your family's meal. Just make sure to seal those edges and turn your foil dinner every 10 minutes, two or three times total.
While the idea of mazes is not a new one, the concept of a corn maze created from tall stalks of corn is something pretty unique to America. Corn mazes have grown in popularity since the 1970's and they are so much fun for everyone involved. And while the mazes are a gorgeous site from above, they are just as exciting to navigate. Take your family to a corn maze near you. You will have plenty of time to let each member try to find the way out. There has been a published list of the best corn mazes in America; Included in this Top 5 list are corn mazes in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Ohio, California, and New York. But there really are corn mazes everywhere, just type in your state and the word, "corn maze," into any search engine, and you'll be sure to find a few options for your family.
Hiking is so much fun for families. Bring a camera along and take lots of pictures of family members discovering cool things. Your family could even turn the hike into a small contest, wherein everyone competes to find the most colorful bird or biggest bug. A nature walk is definitely a peaceful way to stroll around and absorb the beauty around you. While on a family hike, you could have everyone talk about their favorite family memory or their biggest goal for the year. People, kids included, are more open to talking when they are keeping their body active at the same time. It is an adrenalin reaction gets our hearts pumping enough that we are more willing to express ourselves.
By cooking family meals together, getting lost in a corn maze and enjoying the beauty of nature on a family hike, we can improve our relationships with our permanent friends, our family members. In that same study mentioned earlier, that same percentage of people that said they spent less time with their families over the last year also reported a constant amount of time spent with their friends. This tells us that time was a factor, but there was just a decreased importance placed on the time spent with family. If you want to keep your family tight-knit, it is important to keep everyone involved and having fun. So go ahead and make a family date night this weekend, you won't regret it.
Courtney Lewis is the manager of Sweetly You where you can find unique bath body products, and create custom bath and body gift baskets.
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