How to Make Family Events Special

From birthdays to holidays, summer vacations, and anniversaries, there are several family events to celebrate with each one offering the opportunity for family bonding and creating lasting memories. While every parent wants to make every event memorable for everyone, it's important not to make too much of them as such an approach can create anxiety and disappointment. Instead, see family events for what they truly are - a celebration of love and connection. 

There are ways you can make family celebrations more enjoyable and fulfilling for all. And it's not about the scale of the celebration or how much money you spend on it. It's about thoughtfulness. Below, you'll find tips on how you can make family events more special for everyone. Here we go. 

• Create Personalized Greeting Cards or Photo Cards

Customized photo cards will always be among the ultimate presents during any event be it a birthday, graduation, or the holidays. Heck, you don't even need a reason to give one to a family member. You can just give it to them randomly because why not. You most certainly don't need a reason to remind your loved ones how much you adore them. 

While you could peruse a specialty store or grocery store in the neighborhood looking for that perfect greeting card, chances are you may not find one that's as quirky or sentimental as you may want. And this is why you should try to create your own cards to suit your purposes as sentiments. 

There's also the likelihood of customized photo cards ending up in a scrapbook, on a fridge, or mantelpiece due to the thoughtfulness behind them. Generic cards are more likely to be thrown away or forgotten just after a few days.

Creating photo cards or greeting cards is hardly rocket science. There are several templates available and all you have to do is customize the template and print the finished work on a printer like Epson. If you already own a printer, you'll need the following for your customized greeting cards:

• Cardstock paper which is a very thick and durable type of paper. 
• Templates for customization. 

• Family Vacations

Another way to celebrate special events or just spend more time together as a family is to go on a family vacation. To get the best out of a vacation, let everyone have an input in the vacation. While you and your partner det the budget and a location, let the children research attractions in the area and choose where they would like to visit. So, it's important that any location you are choosing for your vacation has something for children. Also, let the kids check weather forecasts and coordinate travel times. Doing this will make the kids involved and trusted. The vacation will truly be a 'family vacation' since everyone is involved. 

You will obviously have man places to choose from depending on location and time of year. For example, if you are on the East Coast, you can check out Outer Banks Vacation Rentals in North Carolina. This way you can pick a property that is just right for you and your family’s needs. 

• Plan The Good Ol' Family Photoshoot

Family photography is a beautiful and magical thing you should never take for granted. You may have an iPhone and all but there's something special about having a professional photographer capture beautiful and sometimes fleeting moments. When you hire a photographer, you are making sure that no one is stuck behind the lens. 

When it comes to family photography, you can schedule a session at a local studio or have a lifestyle family photoshoot which can take place at your home or outdoors. While both options are great, I'll admit I'm partial to lifestyle photoshoots, especially those that involve the outdoors. There is the sunlight, unlimited background option, and beautiful scenery depending on where you are taking the pictures.

Outdoor photography also means having the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. Talk about killing two birds with one stone. 

• Conduct Family Interviews

A good way to strengthen intergenerational bonds in the family is to have the members of the younger generations interview the older ones. Let your kids interview their grandpas, grandmas, aunties, uncles, great-aunts, and great-uncles. 

Have your children ask them questions about their childhood and what it was like growing up. Generally, elders relish the chance to share their experiences with the younger generations who in turn find the stories they are told very entertaining. So, both the older and younger generations are bound to have a good time.  To make things even more interesting, let the elders take over the camera and interview the younger ones.

Family interview presents a unique opportunity to create special bonds with family members and such bonds persists long after the interview is over. 

We hope these tips and activities will create a fun filled family gathering for you.