Got kids? Then Go Play!

After a grueling week, you finally have some downtime. How will you spend it? Running errands? Cleaning house? Squeezing in a little extra work? Maybe you’ll do absolutely nothing— recharging the batteries, so to speak. If you have kids, you may notice that neither of those options produces a very enjoyable day off, particularly when they insist on spending some time with you.

Here are some ways to play with your kids that could give you the best of both worlds—relieving your day-to-day stress as well as feeling closer to your children, with the added benefit of becoming more productive and creative at work:

Get outside. You already know that physical exercise can help alleviate stress, as well as help you sleep better at night. So go play with your kids—take hikes, play sports, or start a game of tag or hide-and-seek. Fly a kite, explore a new neighborhood, or climb a tree; the possibilities are endless.

Make cleaning the house a game. Take turns with your children creating games to make chores fun. Set alarms and have a race. Play music and dance. Pretend to be someone else. You may discover a new tactic to make work more fun!

Drag out the cards and board games. There's something about playing these games that puts us on an even level—and the results often create lasting memories. Listen to how your kids express themselves with their language and slang. Be ready to laugh.

Play some oldies but goodies. Mad Libs and charades are classic party games. They're great ways to get into a creative mindset and can be played in some form by practically all ages.

Make something. There are so many ideas on the internet for creating something. Cook with your children. Make ice cream. Make a sidewalk chalk mural. Build a sand castle. Start a tradition that all gifts be handmade. Look at your local building supply store for kid’s workshops. Check out the parks and recreation courses. Start a garden.

Enter your child's world of play for a change. Play by their rules (to an extent—even their playmates will say “We've knocked over the blocks 400 times now, let's play something else!”) and remember what it was like to imagine and be silly. Introduce your old favorites to your kids, too. Look on Amazon for “vintage toys” and “classic games”.

Throw a party. Movie night, an old-fashioned tea party, a backyard circus—no matter what idea you and your kids come up with, you're sure to have a good time planning the food, decorations, and activities.

Taking the time to reconnect with your children can produce some great moments for both of you, as well as leave you feeling full of energy to take on new challenges. In fact, you’ll be surprised how much more productive and creative you’ll be when you get back to the working world.