In our last blog post, we talked about rough patches that many families face and how those struggles can weaken the family dynamic. Family therapy is meant to bring your family closer, to help you work through the rough patches, and to give you resources to deal with struggles that will occur in the future.

It’s possible that your therapist will give you and your family some homework – things to work on outside of the therapy session. Sometimes, that homework will just be to spend more time together as a family.

Here are some ideas for cheap family fun during the fall season:

Visit a pumpkin patch: the best thing about this idea is that you can make it as long or short of a trip as you want. Go on a hayride, get lost in the corn maze, pick out your pumpkins, and spend the day together. Some pumpkin patches offer discounts for young children and generally have cheaper tickets Monday-Friday. Pack your lunch and plan to have a family picnic!

Pumpkin night: designate a night where your family can carve or paint pumpkins. If you choose to carve your pumpkin, you can save your seeds to roast. Make a night of it – cook a nice meal or order your favorite pizza and have a movie ready for afterward (like a Halloween favorite).

Build a fire: your own backyard could be the farthest you need to go for a fun family night. Give each family member an important job: someone to gather the twigs and start the fire, someone in charge of roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, and someone in charge of telling ghost stories. It’s a great way for your family to spend time together without breaking the bank.

Attend a football game: the game can be of your choosing—maybe your favorite college team’s playing, or the high school down the road has a home game coming up. You can plan a night of tailgating—pack a thermos of hot chocolate, grab a few blankets and sit under the lights to enjoy the football game. And if you have a child who is interested in playing football when they are older, this is the perfect way for you and your husband to explain the game to them.

Let each family member pick out an activity and then spread the activities out over the fall season. Scheduling in family time can be difficult, so the further in advance you schedule, the better.

What do you like to do to with your family in the fall? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook. If you’re interested in talking with Reka about a family issue, please don’t hesitate to call at 402-881-8125. You can also email her at reka@omaha-counseling.com.


photo credit: ^@^ina (Irina Patrascu) via photopin cc