Contributed by Diamond Sydnor

Family has been the glue that has held us together during this difficult and challenging time. What makes this time even more trying is that we cannot visit our family in the way we are used to. Zoom and FaceTime have replaced in person gatherings and activities which is our norm when dealing with family. Psychology Today states, that although Zoom and FaceTime act as substitutes for social interaction, they will always remain unsatisfying due to the lack of in person interaction. Although, the pandemic has made all of us adjust to a new norm it has also brought back family traditions that may have been lost due to the world evolving with technology.

Most of us are so used to being on a social media platforms, reading the news, playing video games, and scrolling our phones that most of the intimate moments we’ve shared with our families shifted due to distractions. Quarantine has created a new appreciation for social interaction and intimacy because we’ve been forced to cope without it, even when it comes to our family. We’ve been in quarantine for about 6 months now and boredom has set in due to the repetition of activities. The New York Times mentioned that the rise of social distancing has caused people to look for new ways to connect, mostly through video chat. The news publication also mentions media platforms like Netflix and YouTube have seen a rise in their website traffic as people are using these platforms as a different kind of entertainment. According to the New York Times, since the pandemic began Netflix has seen a 16 percent increase in usage. The things we used to do are no longer entertaining and there’s so much daunting news in the media, continuously scrolling on social media or watching the TV isn’t as enjoyable anymore.

August is “Family Fun Month!” What is family fun month you may ask? According to National Calendar Day, family Fun month is annually celebrated throughout the entire month of August and is dedicated to the opportune time to enjoy family with extra fun and activities. What a way to have an entire month to be creative, spend time with and celebrate family. It is time to get our creative juices flowing in order to have some safe fun. Below is a list of activities you can try out with your family to have some fun:

1. Family game night

2. Family arts and crafts night

3. Family movie night, or get fancy and rent a projector screen and set it up in your backyard to watch a movie

4. Have a family cook off

5. Family pizza night, go to the grocery store and get all of the ingredients you need to build pizza at home! Who doesn’t love pizza?

6. Have a family baking night! Bake some of the sweet treats your heart desires

7. Go to a local park and have a family picnic on the grass

8. For the grown-ups, have a family paint and sip night

Please be mindful we are still in a pandemic. It is safer to do these activities with your family that lives with you. If for any reason you are meeting with family that doesn’t live with you, please practice the safety and social guidelines provided by your respective state. Most importantly, wear a mask, continuously wash your hands, and practice safe social distancing! Let’s get creative and let’s have some fun!