Why I love Slow Sunday

Sunday gives us the opportunity to slow down and become more intentional

On Sunday we slow down and spend time together as a family. With a large age-gap between my eldest (13) and my youngest (4) child, it can sometimes be tricky to find common ground.

By the time my eldest son hit the tween years, I noticed that he spent more and more time in his room on weekends, coming out for mealtimes then retreating again into solitude. Whilst I truly believe that having alone time is important, it was getting to the point where he was more like a lodger than a member of the family.

That’s how we got started with Slow Sunday. We intentionally get together throughout the day for time as a family. Key points in our day include:

• A bakery breakfast whilst we draw / craft

• A simple board game that everyone can join in with

• A roast Sunday lunch

• Afternoon movie and a picnic

Easy like Sunday Morning

The morning starts with a visit to the bakery to buy delicious organic bread and pastries for breakfast. Whilst this might not sound like the most nutritious of breakfasts, we wanted to do something simple because Sunday lunch takes work.

And whilst we eat, we create. The art cart is rolled over to the dining room table and we all get stuck in. Occasionally, we might watch an Art for Kids Hub tutorial for inspiration.

Board Games

We started to introduce a simple board game each week because my youngest child was not brilliant at taking turns. By playing a board game regularly , he learns the importance of waiting patiently for his turn and being gracious in defeat.

The games we play are from a company called Orchard Toys - they are simple enough for my four-year-old to play, whilst still being enjoyable for the rest of us. The games usually take around 10-15 minutes which is ideal for young children.

The Sunday Lunch Tradition

Having a roast Sunday lunch each week is an important tradition that has carried over from my own childhood. I vividly remember helping peel the carrots and potatoes for my mother and drinking Shloer (a non-alcholic fizzy grape drink) with lunch - I thought I was so sophisticated!

The reality is, family mealtimes are important. And whether you can do them daily or weekly, coming together to prepare, cook and eat a meal helps:

• Improve conversation skills - trust me this is just as important in the teen years as it is in the early years!

• Set an example of good manners, without forcing children to say please and thank you. E.g. ‘Thomas, please pass me the potatoes.’

• Introduce children to a variety of foods: I’ve found that my youngest are more willing to try new foods if they see us adults and their older brother eating them.

• Your family to become a team: don’t let one person do everything! Give everyone a role.

Afternoon movie and a picnic

The hours after lunch are spent however my children want - and yes, that does include TV or computer games time - but at 5pm each Sunday, we come together again for a family movie and a picnic.

Because Sunday dinner is so filling, we don’t want another big meal. Instead, I get out the picnic blanket and place it on the rug in the living room. I make a selection of picnic foods and we all sit down to watch a movie.

Our Sunday afternoon movie time has become a great way to come together as a family and relax before the bedtime routine.

Slow Sunday Ideas to Try

Do you have a Slow Day?

Now it’s your turn to share. If you have your own slow day, I’d love to hear from you so let me know in the comments box below:

Thanks for reading!

Your support means a lot to me, whether you’re a subscriber - or just browsing! In order to get more regular content from me, hit the subscribe button below:

And if you are already a subscriber, why not like, comment or share this article? Likes and comments help me to understand what you want more of.