Family time
Family time brings families closer. Spending time together as a family is important for building strong family ties, making lifelong memories and creating an environment that builds self-esteem and character in children. When asked, children say the number one thing they want most from their parents is TIME. Parents don’t have to spend a lot of money to spend quality time with their children; anytime spent together sharing an activity is considered quality time. Here are a few reasons family time rocks!
Builds self-esteem in children. Children who spend time with their parents participating in activities together build a positive sense of self-worth. When children feel that they are valued by their parents, they feel more positive about themselves. Family activities don’t have to be expensive or luxurious to be meaningful. The important part is just being together and enjoying each other’s company.
Strengthens family bonds. Families who share everyday activities together as well as share vacations or daily excursions as a group from strong, emotional ties. A study publishes in the journal, “Family Relations”; found that families who enjoy group activities together share a stronger bond as well as an ability to adapt well to situations as a family.
Helps parents and children reconnect. Spending time together as a family helps busy parents reconnect with their children. Children tend to share more information about their lives while enjoying an activity with you rather than when you ask them, “what did you do today?” It is also a time when life lessons like sharing, fairness and compassion can be reinforced without conflict. Children grow and change quickly so family time is a wonderful time to get to know your child better.
Activities that will promote happy and healthy children are innumerable and don’t have to be expensive or difficult to access.
With the weather turning cooler this is the perfect time to get active and spend time with your family outdoors. Our last blog had some great tips on Family hiking in Hong Kong in this blog we hope to enlighten you on some amazing places you can explore! We are blessed to be surrounded by culture, history, architecture and flora and fauna here in Hong Kong. Here are a few places that would make for an amazing family outing!
Kowloon Walled City Park
The Kowloon Walled City Park is a historical park located in Kowloon City. The Park was built on the land where an old city surrounded by a large wall, named Kowloon Walled City. Inside the park you will see a few gardens and traditional Chinese architecture buildings. The mixture of traditional buildings and nature garden gives a unique contrast to the park that you won’t find anywhere else in Hong Kong. It was very interesting to see how different things look in the park compared to the rest of the city. Around the park there are few playground for children to play as well.
http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/parks/kwcp/
Nam Sang Wai
If you like hiking, cycling or picnic with your child/children, Nam Sang Wai is another place that I would recommend. This place is crisscrossed by the Kam Tin River and Shan Pui River, Nam Sang Wai‘s rustic scenery attracts bird-watchers, cyclists and picnickers. You can explore the area along a network of paths. This landscape of (mostly abandoned) farms and glistening fish ponds surrounded by waving tall reeds and simple wooden huts will make you feel a world away from the concrete Hong Kong. Some people will choose to rent a bike in Yuen Long then cycle to Nam Sang Wai as a family activity as well.
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/ca/see-do/great-outdoors/hikes/nam-sang-wai.jsp
Mingle Farm
Of course if you like camping and don’t want to build your own tent Mingle Farm might be your choice. They have five camping zones that fit for different family and for different needs. Caravan – camp van, Box – camp house, AEcoSphere – Semi-Transparent inflatable bubble tent, Fantasy – Inflatable mushroom blow up tent and Box – Box house. Near the camp site there’s a Flower Playground and Kam Tin outdoor games ground for children to play.
Caravan AEcoSphere Fantasy
Box
http://www.minglefarm.com/index.html
