Slice of Life: Are You Planning for Mandatory Fun? #SOL20

When my kids were tweens, we started a new tradition based on the advice of a friend.  It was called “mandatory fun.” Mandatory fun had two rules. It was mandatory you participate and mandatory that you had fun. These were not huge events - just weekly hikes, family game nights, bike rides, etc.  Over the years, we realized that we never had to worry about them having fun, it was just getting them going initially that was tough.  Once we had them going, they always had fun.

I have been thinking about “mandatory fun” lately.  It is easy right now to get caught up in work, watching the news, checking on people, and caring for family members.  We need to remember to build fun into our days. Fun to get us moving, talking, playing, laughing and creating. 

There are so many schedules being shown on social media right now.  It is helpful to think about having a routine and some predictability each day for our families.  As you create your schedule with your family, consider scheduling “mandatory fun” every day.  You could have an individual “mandatory fun” time, a sibling “mandatory fun” time, and a group “mandatory fun” time.  You could have different kinds on different days.  If you have young children in the home, they will be all over organizing this.  I have two young adults at home, so we rotate who is in charge each day of mandatory fun.

This week has been filled with information about online learning, virtual lessons, and digital resources.  It is important to figure out how and what kids will be learning during this time at home.  I hope we also start thinking about the amount of time they are having fun and interacting with parents, caregivers and families.  It can be simple and in short bursts. It can be inside or outside.  It can be real or pretend.  The only rule is … it is mandatory you participate, and it is mandatory you have fun!

Thank you, Stacey, Beth, Betsy, Kathleen, Melanie, Lanny, Kelsey, Marina, Amy, and Therapi for hosting this weekly forum and the March Challenge. Check out the writers, readers, and teachers here.