Why We Need a National Family Pajama Day

National Family Pajama Day falls on November 14th this year. Is it a made-up holiday? Definitely!  It was started in 2019 by Soma, an American apparel company. However, this might just be one holiday worth celebrating. The concept is simple — escape from the world and spend the day with your family...in pajamas!

Why we need a National Family PJ Day

Spending an entire day in our pajamas sounds comfy, relaxing and fun. But the focus on this holiday is more about spending quality time with our families. Family is important, here’s why:

Understanding families

Family is important and spending time with our families has significant advantages. Studies have shown that when we spend time with our families, it can help to reduce stress and anxiety, lead to healthier lifestyles and even increase our lifespan. Our families motivate us to be our best selves. They provide love and support. Essentially, they make us who we are.

Building self-confidence

Spending time with our families help to boost our confidence. Children learn to build their self-esteem through communication and problem solving with their parents. They learn to love oneself and they learn respect for others. Confidence grows for all members of a family simply because they learn that they are loved and valued by their loved ones.

Conflict resolution

Families are fun but they can also be challenging. When conflicts come up, you must work together to solve the issues of the day. Families teach us communication skills, including healthy ways to discuss and solve problems.

Future parents

Creating memories with your children instills a desire in them to create the same loving atmosphere in their future homes. Through our examples as parents, we teach our kids the importance of caregiving skills. We are our children’s first learning environment, and we have the potential to shape how our children will interact with their kids someday.

Stress

All families face challenges and go through hard times. Families that can spend time together and talk about their feelings, build resilience. This resilience enables them to grow, adapt and change when life becomes stressful. There is comfort and strength in families who have learned to lean on each other, communicate and problem solve together.

How to celebrate

A National PJ Day makes a little more sense when we understand the importance of spending quality time with our family. Here are some ideas for celebrating this fun, family holiday!

Start the day making breakfast together. Mixing up pancake batter and making a build your own pancake bar is a great way to start this holiday. Grab toppings such as nuts, chocolate chips, bananas and whipped cream and let everyone top their pancakes to their hearts delight.

Spend the day at home playing games. Hide and seek is a family favorite or you can pull out the board games. Try some of the classics like Monopoly, Candy Land or Life. If you are up for it, a good game of Twister will provide lots of laughs as well.

Of course you can go outside in your pajamas on National PJ Day! How about a game of tag or just lounging outside enjoying the weather. Kids will love the idea of wearing their pajamas out in the yard.

Have a family photo shoot. What better way to preserve family memories? You might hire a photographer to stop by for a photo session, no selfie stick required! Or, ask a friend or neighbor to stop by and get some candid photos of the group. It's also just as easy to DIY your family photos with a little planning.

Read together. Gather some of your kids’ favorite books or maybe purchase a few new ones. Sitting down together and reading out loud gives kids the opportunity to engage and ask questions.

Create some family art. Plan the project ahead of time and gather your supplies, whether it’s finger paint, glue and scissors, just let the creative magic happen. Display the artwork on the refrigerator or hang it in the family room for all to see.

For dinner why not order out for pizza and have a fun family movie night? Spread a large blanket on the floor and have an indoor “picnic”. Popping popcorn will add the to fun while watching some classic movies like Freaky Friday or Willy Wonka.

Gather

Whether you opt for the pajamas or not, remember the importance of quality family time.  Families play a crucial role in our lives. They provide love and support, help us to grow, and offer a foundation for our future. The connections we build with our families are crucial for our well-being. So, gather.  Make some lasting family memories. And celebrate this National Family PJ Day together!

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