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Stratford Schools New Year and New Opportunities

for Family Fun & Creating New Memories

By Sponsored January 12, 2017

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Ringing in a New Year is a great time to reflect as a family. What dreams and plans do you have for 2017? What new milestones will your kids achieve? And what are some ways you can enjoy time together, building new memories?


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Snuggling on the couch as a family enjoying a good movie is one way. And it’s often our go-to activity with the colder weather and dark evenings. Yet, if you find your family needs a little more family togetherness, here are some fresh new ideas for having fun and bringing your family together.

Get ready for laughter and smiles when you try one of these seven ideas!

  1. Family Newsletter. Create a family newsletter to send to family, friends and neighbors. The kids can be the editors, selecting the stories and news to share. Consider making this a monthly or quarterly project. Your newsletter will foster teamwork—and create a treasured family keepsake.

  2. City Tour. Pretend your family are tourists in your town. See sights you’ve never seen before. That museum you’ve been meaning to visit, a park on the other side of town, or maybe a restaurant that serves a type of food you’ve never had before (or rarely have).

  3. Box Play. Little kids love reinventing ordinary cardboard boxes into forts, playhouses, and even space ships. Even the bigger kids will love getting in on the action as they tape boxes together, cut holes for windows and doors, and add blankets and pillows inside to be comfy as they fly to Mars.

  4. Formal Dinner. Have a family party fit for a King and Queen. Use the fancy dishes and tablecloth. Have everyone dress their best and meet up in the dining room for an evening of using their manners, making conversation, and listening to one another. Don’t forget to take a selfie of your spiffed up family!

  5. Color Time. Everyone seems to love coloring these days. Gather up the crayons and assorted coloring books. Invite the entire family to the table to color together. You’ll be amazed at the chatter that flows as the kids create their works of art.

  6. Star Gazing. Bundle up, grab a blanket, and head out to the back yard. Lay on the blanket and look up at the stars together. Point out some of the constellations. Also, share what animals or other images you see in the stars (similar to looking at clouds). Afterward, gather in the kitchen to warm up with mugs of hot cocoa.

  7. Donation Jar. Decorate a jar with paper, stickers, and more. Encourage everyone to toss spare change into the jar. When it gets full, go as a family to donate it to a local charity. It will be fun to see the jar fill up with “hope” for those in need.

Imagine these ideas and more as we all look forward to an exciting healthy and happy New Year!

About Stratford School

Established in 1999, Stratford School is a leading independent private school founded on the belief that education is a significant influence in the life of a child. Stratford offers an accelerated curriculum from preschool through eighth grade with an emphasis in the areas of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) that incorporates music, physical education, foreign language, and social skills development. Stratford’s goal is to prepare and mentor students for admission to competitive high schools and colleges. All students are provided the necessary tools to excel, and are encouraged to participate actively in leadership, community service, and extracurricular activities.

Visit http://www.stratfordschools.com for more information.