Most of us say that family is most important to us and that we put them first – but do we? A 2024 report by EMARKETER stated that American adults spend over 12.5 hours per day listening to, watching, reading or generally interacting with media. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, teens are spending an average of 8.5 hours a day on entertainment media, including televisions, computers, phones and other electronic devices. Then when you consider school, work, sports, band, volunteering, scholastic events, and youth groups, it is hard to figure out how to spend time with family members.
However, spending time together as a family is important. Research has found that children are better off in terms of academic and emotional well-being from time spent with parents. Family routines and rituals experienced in childhood also set the course for how one will organize their own family life in adulthood. Quality time with parents is important for children's growth and development and it helps children to develop in a positive way as they grow.
Sometimes you need to purposefully plan family activities – or be an intentional family. Here are some suggestions to get started:
- Schedule "My Calendar Day" for each family member. On a specific day of the week, one family member gets to pick the dinner menu, select the TV show or activity to do.
- Have a Sunday sundae.
- Establish family rituals. The more rituals a family has, the better members will work as a team and become stronger as a family.
- Have a family getaway (could even be camping in the backyard!)
- Have lunch at school or work together.
- Outdoor activities are especially important – make sure to "unplug."
- Choose a weekly or monthly Family Night In, where you intentionally spend quality time together.
Original article written by Cheri Burcham in February 2018. Updated May 2026.