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Friday night movies is a tradition at our house, one that we look forward to all week. We pick a movie that everyone can enjoy. We pop popcorn on the stove with oil– it is so much yummier than with the air popper. We haul out the beanbags and the pillows and put on comfy PJ’s. It is just one of the traditions that binds us together as a family.
Awhile back I wrote about some of the things we did wrong in the early weeks of helping our newest kids get settled in. I mentioned in passing that I thought we also did some things right. One of the biggest ‘right’ things we have done is to establish a predictable routine, something the kids can look forward to week after week.
At our house Sunday morning means church. Then in the afternoon there are home shows on TV and Extreme Makeover Home Edition in the evening. Monday is swimming day. Wednesday night is Kids’ Bible club at our church. Friday night is soccer night and movie night. Saturday is hair day. On the third Thursday of every month we go roller-skating with our local homeschool group. And nearly every month there is someone’s birthday to look forward to.
The act of looking forward to fun events has been so helpful for our girls that recently I took a sheet of paper and listed all the major fun events we have planned for the next year– holidays, birthdays, vacations, skating parties, church camp, and anything else we enjoy doing as a family.
The kids have already looked at the list multiple times. I know that when I get in a down mood, thought of future funs helps pull me through. Kids are no different. A routine is a great tool for helping children feel connected and comfortable in their new family.
We have tried the movie night, but have had a hard time finding enough suitable movies that fit all ages. (without watching the same movies over too many times:-) Maybe a sharing of favorite movie titles would be a fun idea.? We do love the old Andy Griffith shows. We also have enjoyed the old “Herbie” movies. Feature Films for Families also has some good ones.
That’s cool; thanks for sharing!