When a person is in active addiction, their substance use disorder affects their whole family. Confusion, disruption, and lack of communication are common occurrences. Family bonds are damaged or broken. Being in recovery from a drug or alcohol addiction means committing to your sobriety every day. It means making healthy choices, rebuilding your life, and rebuilding the bonds between you and your loved ones. An excellent way to strengthen bonds and heal together is by having fun as a family. When you spend quality time on family-friendly activities, you keep your sobriety on track, rebuild relationships, and make lasting, happy memories.
Activities for Families to Enjoy in Sobriety
We offer below some ideas for sober family fun for you to explore. Of course, not all activities are suitable for all families. It depends on location, season, ages, and financial considerations. Try to include everyone’s input on most family activities. But it is also nice to occasionally plan a surprise for everyone. You can create wonderful family memories while keeping you sobriety intact.
Family Movie Night or Game Night
Having a special family night at home is a fun and inexpensive activity. The ideas are limitless. Break out everyone’s favorite games and make the evening memorable with prizes or themes. If you are doing a movie night, watch a new movie everyone wants to see, choose an old childhood favorite, or watch a new TV show together. Make it special by setting up camp in the living room, complete with sleeping bags. A big part of the family fun is the food! Have a selection of favorite snacks, grill some hot dogs, or order pizza. Start a new family night food tradition. Have everyone make their own favorite ice cream sundae or make a pizza and let everyone add their own toppings.
Visit a Summer Fair or a Winter Festival
Fairs and festivals are a great way to spend a family day. They usually have a variety of attractions and activities to interest everyone regardless of age. Street food vendors and food trucks offer a wide assortment of different foods and beverages. Check out the displays, play games, and watch live entertainment. Pet the animals in the petting zoo, walk the midway, enjoy the rides. Everyone will end the day with happy memories.
Spend the Day at an Amusement Park or a Water Park
This kind of family fun can be more expensive than most others. Making it a once-a-year special event can give everyone something to look forward to. Kids of all ages love going to amusement or water parks. If you have young children who do not know how to swim, not to worry: many water parks have sections designed for small children. In addition to thrill-packed rides, many amusement parks showcase local craftspeople and artists and provide live entertainment and shows.
Plant a Garden
A wonderful family project is planting and caring for a garden together. It is an excellent way to connect with family members, spend time outdoors, and reap the rewards together with delicious homegrown fruits and vegetables. If you do not have a yard, you can still grow a garden. Set pots on your porch, terrace, or sidewalk, and make a container garden.
Enjoy Spending Time in Nature
Spending time in nature has amazing benefits. It improves mood, increases concentration, reduces stress, and boosts overall well-being. A recent study from the University of Illinois found that spending time in nature with family can significantly strengthen family bonds. Whether you go hiking, camping, spend a day at the beach, or play a game of frisbee at a park, the time spent outside in a natural setting will have benefits for all. If it is cold and the ground is covered with snow, go sledding or ice-skating, build a snowman, or have a light-hearted snowball fight.
Try Something Different or Do Something You Used to Enjoy
There are so many fun sober activities for families to experience. Try something you have never done before or something you used to enjoy doing. Go bowling, play miniature golf, visit an arcade, or attend a concert. Visit a museum, see a play, or attend a local sporting event. Take up geocaching, which is today’s version of going on a treasure hunt.
Do You Need Help?
Addiction can affect anyone. If you or a loved one is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, you are not alone. At Canyon Vista Recovery Center, located in Mesa, Arizona, help is available. Our caring professionals will use a combination of medical, psychiatric, clinical, and holistic approaches to heal your mind, body, and spirit. Take the first step on the path to recovery. Call us today.
