Family Dance Parties & Quick Tips for a Stronger, Happier Family [Friday’s Fast Five: 8th Edition]

Building a stronger, happier family is at the top of most parents’ list. However, we are busy! These weekly Fast Five ideas and tips are a quick way to brainstorm, check-in, and create the family relationships you really want. Family dance parties, a political lesson, a quick bedtime tip, and more are included in today’s ideas. Happy Friday!

* These ideas are NOT meant to be a checklist or guilt trip of things we “should do.” Rather, they are intended to inspire you to find what works for YOUR family to learn, laugh, and love together. Remember to stick to the Simple Side of Parenting.

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What is Friday’s Fast Five?

Each Friday, we share five quick and simple ideas for families under the following categories:

1. Something Fun

This is an activity, game, entertainment recommendation, or simple outing for family fun.

2. A Little Lesson

Here you will find a simple lesson to help teach kids important ideas. Examples include life skills or personal qualities like kindness and patience.

3. A Service Idea

Volunteering is good for our mental and physical health. Serving together strengthens relationships with those we serve and those we serve with. Service can be fun and eye-opening. Service is an important way to learn, laugh, and love together.

4. Something Random

This is a random thought, idea, quote, or meme, typically to help you smile. 🙂

5. A Quick Tip

Here you will find a quick parenting or family tip for peaceful parenting or building a stronger, happier family. These come from research, personal experience, or those common sense reminders we all need to hear once in a while.

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With that, here is the eighth edition of Friday’s Fast Five. (You can find other editions HERE.)

1. Something Fun: Family Dance Parties

Family dance parties are a simple way to bond, be active, and laugh together. I chose to mention this today because it’s a perfect example of finding small ways to connect. This is something we all love around here that doesn’t cost money or even take a lot of effort.

It doesn’t get any easier than having family dance parties! Turn on the jams and dance away!

We love combining a family dance party with work, like during dinner clean-up or on Saturday morning.

If family dance parties aren’t a regular at your house, it might take some time for some individuals to warm-up. Shy or reserved personalities might be uncomfortable dancing at first. However, as they see that it’s a safe space and everyone is having fun, most will eventually join in.

The Best Music for Family Dance Parties

One fun way to make a family dance party playlist is to have each person pick a few songs to add to the list. This way everyone hears some favorites.

Amazon Music is one great way to access tons of music and create playlists.

Click image to start a free trial of Amazon Music.

We also like using Pandora and setting up a station that has upbeat music because then we still have a variety in which songs we hear.

2. A Little Lesson: Family Debate

Learn about politics by participating in a similar process.

Have a debate about a family topic. This could be something like how to set-up a new chore system or what movie to watch together. Practice letting everyone speak and then vote on the final decision.

Connect this experience to the political process.

Related: 20 Simple Ways to Teach Kids about Politics

Wondering how to fit Little Lessons into your busy family schedule?

The two main ways to fit important lessons into your busy family schedule are to find spontaneous teaching moments throughout the day and to schedule family learning time each week. These two posts go into detail about these two ways and tips for making it happen with your family.

How Busy Parents Can Teach Important Life Lessons

6 Tips for Family Time that Teaches Life’s Most Important Lessons

3. A Service Idea: Trash Clean-Up

Clean-up trash at a park, beach, or other public space. Many times schools or local sports complexes will accumulate trash around the fence lines. Make a special trip to clean-up or simply pick-up trash wherever you are, whenever you see it.

This is a simple way to help our kids feel a sense of community and responsibility.

Service is a great way to build a stronger, happier family. If you want more service ideas, request Raising Compassionate Children in a Conceited World, which includes 101 Service Ideas for Families.

4. Something Random: Inspiring Messages

The first weekend in October is always one of my favorites because our church holds a semi-annual worldwide conference. The weekend is full of uplifting messages. Sometimes within our family we call it “Pajama Church,” as we snuggle up at home and watch the conference online. 🙂

Each conference, I feel uplifted and learn more about how to help my family and others. I always feel the love of God and a greater measure of peace.

All are invited, so if you’d like to learn more or listen in, you can do that here. Messages are also printed after, so they can be accessed at anytime.

Do you have a favorite family tradition that strengthens you spiritually? If so, I’d love to hear about it! Please share in the comments.

5. A Quick Tip: Bedtime Routine

Today’s quick tip comes from a reader. I love that this is from a dad who works full-time out of the home. He said, “Bedtime routine tip: alternate between parents where possible. We are all tired at the end of the day, so it helps to take turns being in charge of the tooth brushing, book, story, songs, etc. :)”

Bedtime can be a challenge for a lot of families, but as we share the load, it gets lighter.

To those who don’t have this option, know that you are doing a great work! I hope these bedtime tips are helpful, and then when all is finally quiet for the day, give yourself a huge pat on the back for a job well done.

The more consistent we are with our bedtime routine, the easier it gets.

Related: 5 Steps to an Easier Bedtime

And that is Friday’s Fast Five!

You can also see Friday’s Fast Five on Instagram or other editions HERE.

Building a Stronger, Happier Family

It takes time and intention to build a stronger, happier family. I hope Friday’s Fast Five helps you find the ways that work for YOUR family to learn, laugh, and love together.

We will never regret the time we devote to our families and relationships with our kids.

Have a great weekend with your family, know that you’re loved, and keep on lovin’!

Do you have a great idea for a future Friday’s Fast Five? Have a question or parenting struggle you want help with? Share in the comments, shoot me an Email, or schedule a call.

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