THE GIFT OF FAMILY (39): FAMILY TIME BENEFITS

"Of all our social institutions, the family is perhaps the one with which we are most familiar. As we proceed through our lives, our experiences within the family give rise to some of our strongest and most intense feelings. Within the family context lies a paradox, however: although most of us hope for love and support within the family -- a haven in a heartless world, so to speak -- the family can also be a place of violence and abuse." - Marylin Poole

Tis the season to gather those you love and soak up the quality time together. We should do this all year round - even research shows that spending time with loved ones is good for health. The benefits are numerous. From decreasing loneliness to thrashing stress levels, from helping with quitting "bad" habits to making a difference in healthy eating habits. Find out some reasons why it's healthy to spend time with people you love.

1. Creating a stronger emotional bond between parents and children.

2. Allows for better communication between family members.

3. Promotes superior performances in school, as children who spend time communicating with their parents tend to get better grades.

4. These children are less likely to exhibit behavioural problems, since kids with parents who spend quality family time together typically have fewer problem behaviours.