Connection to family

​IMPACT encourages you to connect with yourself, your friends, your family, and your community. Each month there is a different way to make a connection, and for February, the focus is on Family and connecting with Family!
Family by definition is described as a group of one or more caregivers/parent(s) and their children/dependent(s) living together as a unit.
Families today can be wonderfully diverse and may look different from household to household. Our family unit shapes who we are, and who we’ve become today. Family is important because it is the building blocks to success in life and lays the foundation for future relationships. Family can influence brain development, mental health, overall well-being, and life satisfaction. These outcomes can be either a negative or positive experience depending on your family or the family environment you create.
How can you make these aspects a positive experience in your family unit? How do you encourage clear communication and connection in your family?
Connecting with your family starts with from to birth and impacts you until adulthood. It is important to set aside quality time to do things together. Giving your attention and time to your loved ones, regularly and often. These don’t have to be elaborate or expensive, simple gestures such as reading books to baby, going for a walk to together, making new supper recipes with each other, having mealtimes together and using this time for conversation and discussion. Building bonds in small ways, often.
Solidify family support by keeping communication open. Making discussion time a safe place to share and a place where your loved one feels seen, respected, and heard. This way, your family, especially your children will be welcoming to share the good news and funny stories with you AND will be the first to turn to you for support with the harder, more challenging discussions life tends to throw at us. Knowing they have a support system will make these times easier.
There are many fun ways in our community to encourage healthy family support, connection, and quality time. Such as, but not limited to; Family Resource Network, FCSS, Wainwright Public Library, Wainwright on Wellness, Military Family Resource Network, the town of Wainwright, offers numerous activities (which can be found on their website) and events for families. In addition, you can access the communiplex for family swim nights, watch hockey games, indoor playground, or live theater showings. Or take advantage of the paved walking/bike paths and beautiful splash park or playgrounds which will allow families the opportunity to connect with other families. The golf course is open year-round for in and outdoor play, boxing club, fitness centers, field courts, curling, bowling and movie theater are some other options families may find fun to invest in, to encourage the deep family connection.
Close healthy family relationships are vital for a healthy successful society and is what keeps your family feeling supported and happy throughout their lives. This February, we encourage you to go ahead and Make an IMPACT With Family!