Send the neighbor’s kids home, turn off the television, and round up the family for an evening of fun in the hot tub. Your spa provides the perfect place for your kin to spend some quality time together without cell phones buzzing with text messages or social media causing distractions. Because sometimes finding common ground between your teenager and your elementary schooler is a challenge, try some of these family bonding tips:
Star Light, Star Bright
Brush up on your constellations and Greek mythology as a family. Head into the tub on a night where there aren’t any clouds to see the stars at their finest. This is not only a great way to educate your children, but it can also create some friendly competition. See who can find the North Star first or challenge them to find Canis the Dog, Draco the Dragon, and Equus the Horse. Even though it’s practically impossible to impress your kids at their age, show off you knowledge of Greek mythology, or see who can come up with the funniest renditions of the ancient stories.
UNO!
It doesn’t matter how much teenage angst your kids have built up, everyone can get on board with a game of UNO. Stock up on a waterproof deck and let the fun times fly. Even better, up the ante and let the winner skip out on dish washing duty! If teaching your kids the basics of Texas Hold ‘Em is more your style, pick up some traditional waterproof game cards, too.
Food for Thought
Stretch out the evening with your family’s favorite grub. Bribe your kids to join you outside with cheese and crackers, fresh fruit, and veggie dip. If that’s not enough to get them to hang out with you, the smell of your BBQ ribs just may do the trick. Throw some corn on the cob and burgers on the grill and you’ve got yourself a family feast. And to keep the kids coming back for your next backyard hang out, don’t forget to treat them with some dessert.
Hanging out with your family in the hot tub doesn’t have to mean silently staring at one another and watching the seconds tick by. Use this opportunity to strike up conversation, play some games, and get in touch with your sillier sides.
