Have More Fun and More Fun Together!

Many thanks to Viva Miramar for permission to reprint this article.

We begin exploring how each suggestion on your 2013 Parent’s Top Ten List can influence your life and your family life.  We begin at the top with the first suggestion – “Have more fun and more fun together” – because fun makes everything better!

People from Albert Einstein – “Creativity is intelligence having fun” – to Groucho Marx – “If you're not having fun, you're doing something wrong” – have commented on having fun.  Possibly the staunchest supporter of fun is Dr. Seuss who said, “If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good.”  Having fun is refreshing.  Our brains need fun to recharge.  According to the Washington Post, “Brain research suggests that fun is not just beneficial to learning but, by many reports, required for authentic learning and long-term memory.”  Studies have shown that fun in the workplace increases employee satisfaction and performance.  Fun is connecting. 

Fun produces great results!   When you have fun, you nurture yourself.  You will be more creative, flexible, and composed when handling challenges with your children.  The same holds true for your child.  He or she will be more fulfilled, more cooperative, and happier.  Having fun together will strengthen, connect, and ground your family. 

Ask your child about his ideas on fun.  He is an expert!  As you plan activities for your family, keep in mind that having fun and being entertained are two different things.  You are involved in having fun.  It isn’t passive.  Turn off the television and computer, and let your child teach you all about running through the woods like a horse, swimming in the ocean like a fish, singing her favorite songs, painting a family portrait, or riding bikes. 

As Dr. Seuss said, “Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”  Enjoy having more fun and more fun together!