When it comes to creating lasting memories with your family, there is nothing better than spending time on the water. Whether you are going on a cruise or just taking a dip, there are plenty of cool ways to bond with your family while on the water.
Shahla climbed down the steps to the ferry with her mother and Umm Yussuf. It was almost full, and people pushed to enter.
1. Take a Walk
Walking is great for the environment and it also gives families the chance to bond together without the distractions of electronic devices. It can be a good way to help kids focus and calm down.
Creating a nature walk scavenger hunt is a great way to make the experience more fun for everyone. You can download a scavenger hunt app or even just print out a list of things to look for during your walk.
Sailing as a family is one of the best ways to build stronger bonds, create lasting memories and offers a unique educational experience beyond traditional classroom learning. Click here to read about how one family did just that on their sailing adventure.
2. Go for a Swim
Spending time with the family is always a good idea, but many people don’t have enough free time to do so. Activities such as going for a swim help to bring the whole family together, regardless of age or skill level.
Swimming also provides a sense of weightlessness and freedom, making it a great exercise for both the body and mind. It is a great way to relax, and it can also be beneficial for those who suffer from stress and anxiety.
Swimming as a family also improves teamwork and communication skills.
3. Learn a New Skill
Learning a new skill together can strengthen family bonds and foster an appreciation for the natural environment. Sailing, for example, is a great way to encourage multigenerational interaction and teamwork.
Sailing can also teach families about navigation, boat maintenance, and other maritime skills. It can also help them gain a greater appreciation for the world around them by offering them a glimpse into different cultures and languages.
While sailing can be a fun and memorable experience, it can also present challenges for some families. To mitigate this, try to avoid large meals before boarding and sit near the front of the ferry (if possible). This can help prevent motion sickness.
4. Have a Cookout
Few activities bring a family together like boating. It requires everyone to put down their phones and work together as a team to make the trip a success.
It also provides a lot of opportunity for family bonding, even between siblings. Sailing is a great way to watch sibling interaction in action, with bursts of intense teamwork mixed in with long stretches of daydreaming and reflection. The resulting moments are truly special.
5. Watch a Movie
Watching a movie with your family is an excellent opportunity to bond with them and share some laughs. It also helps your kids learn how to establish relationship with other people, reducing sibling rivalry and boosting communication skills.
Families can empathize with the heroes in movies, and they feel proud when the hero achieves what they desire. Watching a movie with your family will create a strong bond that will last for a lifetime. You can begin to co-regulate before the movie begins by making food, building a blanket fort, and so on.
6. Have a Game Night
A family game night is a great way to spend quality time together. It can also help you teach your children important life skills like patience, turn-taking, and fair play.
Try out Codenames, a fun word association game for all ages or Ticket to Ride, a strategic board game that encourages teamwork and planning. Both are ideal for families since they have simple gameplay mechanics and short playtimes.
You can also have a fun scavenger hunt game that gets your entire family up and moving. Or test your agility with the fast-paced family game UNO.
7. Go for a Ride
Traveling by ferry with kids can be a fun and convenient way to reach your holiday destination. However, it can also require a certain level of patience and resilience.
Here are some Mumsnetter tips to make the journey as enjoyable as possible for your whole family. For example, choose a night-time sailing to allow your DCs to sleep through the bulk of the trip and consider booking cabins as they can often accommodate travel cots.
8. Have a Dance Party
If you have a ferry journey planned that involves multiple ages, family bonding is an important aspect of your trip. A fun dance party is a great way to get your hearts pumping and spend some quality time together.
Decorate your dance space according to the theme (such as a dark goth theme) and curate a playlist. You can also book a Peerspace venue such as this dark-themed artistic studio space for extra fun! Family slumber parties are also popular among ferry passengers. This is the perfect way to bond with your kids, siblings and extended family!
9. Have a Music Night
Whether it’s soft rock, classical music or the hits of a family band everyone can enjoy a night with music as the central focus. Try having a family fun time by playing games that involve music like Guess Who Sung That Song?
Have each family member pick two talents to show off. They can choose to sing, play an instrument, recite a poem or do a magic trick. Everyone loves to see the unique talents of others!
10. Have a Family Game Night
Spending time outdoors is a great way for family members to bond. It also encourages active play, burns energy, and can bring even the most reclusive teen out of their shell.
Family game nights can offer a little friendly competition and help teach children important life skills like rule-following, turn-taking, and problem-solving. Games can also be used to build creativity, vocabulary, and general knowledge.
Games that are ok for kids of all ages include Codenames, a word association game; Pandemic, a cooperative game that encourages teamwork and communication; and Kingdomino, a tile-laying game that promotes spatial reasoning and strategic planning.