Regaining a sense of belonging
Family bonding retreat
Keep the family bond close. Reunite estranged connections. Be present. Strengthen relationship.
The urgent question is: how can we do better for our children and by our children? How can we support family? Urban life and technology impact all aspects of family life. Higher economic standard and smaller number of children in families did not result in more attention and connection. Stress and endless to-do-lists rob the families. They need support to get out of urban flats, off the screens and reunite estranged connections outside, within organized, yet spontaneous environment.
Montenegro
Regional
Central and Northern Montenegro
It addresses urban-rural linkages
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Early concept
No
No
As an individual
Modernization and development made certain areas of lives easier and more manageable. However, the job of parenting has become increasingly challenging and complex. Society is deeply technologically centric and practices regarding work, play and socializing changed significantly. Drastic changes in urban life styles and time consuming careers, put more challenges in front of the parents. As everyone’s life style, including children, shifted to a more digital domain, it created direct impact on family dynamic. Families all around the world need more support to resist and prevent further disconnection. Working to reunite estranged families is more than walk in the park and concept of the project aims continuous organized activities and environment that bring family together, to work as a group in a stress-free way.
Family
Reconnection
Bonding
Retreat
Fun-filled activities
Family is a unit where you create foundations for a new life. Family is shaping children, their personality, ethical values. Family is where you shape society. Modern families need support and environment for reconnection, where they will know they share same challenges and have opportunity to reconnect within open space and nature. It is often required that both parents are working, very often multiple jobs, to meet needs. Stress and lack of time result in rising issue of potential disconnection in the family system, along with the rise of technology use (both by parents and by children). When children and parents engage in artistic or physical activities together, it is far more than just having fun. These are the moment that build strong emotional bonds, sense of connection and comfort. It is a way to step away from stress and simply be together. Laughing, creating, being together without appliances.
The modernization of the world is unstoppable, but we have to make an effort to preserve the most important unit of the world- family. This simple fact makes the project sustainable as the need of support will grow through the time and that need is universal.
The modernization of the world is unstoppable, but we have to make an effort to preserve the most important unit of the world- family. This simple fact makes the project sustainable as the need of support will grow through the time and that need is universal.
The project is planned to be organized outdoors, in order to offer connection with nature and provide opportunity to people living in urban areas to be outside flats and other closed spaces. Having in mind the limited time during the day, due to busy schedule, organized space and fun activities will decrease the pressure to those willing to spend quality time with their children. It will not be park and will have no standard park inventory. It will be simple, organic, nature friendly area with planned spots and activities both for children and parents. It will be electronic-devices-free and with thematic activities in accordance to season, important dates, and specific needs. Because of global decrease of physical play in recent years, the project can be exemplary in other parts of Montenegro and beyond.
Spending time outdoors with family leads to good mental health outcome both for parents and for children.
Spending time outdoors with family leads to good mental health outcome both for parents and for children.
Connection which gives comfort, confidence and make someone believe in themselves, includes not only children, but parents, grandparents, relatives. Inclusion refers to celebration of generations through this concept by aiming special bonds between generations. Activities will honor also grandparents, as intergenerational bonds can also contribute to the family’s overall well-being. Empowered individual can be changing power of each society.
At this point, there is no involvement of citizens or civil society. It is completely based on experience of many people and careful observation of the circumstances. However, it is expected that they will recognize the opportunity to reduce technological absorption and see it as achievable goal, through time and effort of this project. We are convinced that both citizens and civil societies and organizations working in the field of family and child care will participate in different way. Technology is around for a long time, but the scale in which we see it in the last decade, significantly increased. Along with benefits it brought, it presented immense challenges. Everyone has become aware of it. The project is small contribution to attempts to support family and child development through some old ways.
The idea and concept of the project is completely individual and at this point there is no involvement neither for local or national level.
Once the sources are provided and next stages become more feasible, they will be contacted in order to secure possible wider scope of the concept.
Once the sources are provided and next stages become more feasible, they will be contacted in order to secure possible wider scope of the concept.
Idea of the project is truly based on observation of the world surrounding us. It is very clear that existing habits and family dynamics do not serve to well-being of families and future. Parents are questioning “why does this feel so hard” and concept of the project should offer some validation for them. It cannot solve very complex burden of modern times, but it can be one small contribution to have a place where there are strategies and activities shaped to bring them together, to maintain loving patience through fun and joy. Classical playgrounds, parks and playrooms seems outdated way, since mostly engage only kids, while parents are monitoring or sitting in cafés with their mobile phones. On the other side, the experts are clear about the fact that the single most important thing four children’s mental health is the relationship they have with their parents. This projects tends to offer some old ways of simply being outside together and have fun activities involving both children and parents. This platform is response to drastic changes in the last decade and support to families who want to do differently, but the stress and time and energy consuming jobs do not live them enough capabilities to do so.
There are many playrooms, courses for kids, traditional playgrounds, private kindergartens and schools in Podgorica, all offering different way of fun for kids. In all of mentioned options it means more logistics for parents, transferring, driving and waiting for kids, or running to finish some of other obligations from never ending to-do-list. There is no place which means engagement of both children and parents in activities making the time spent in such place, the time of reconnection, bonding and building relationship. This concept is completely devoted to offer outdoor activities together, which will make those moments memorable, stress releasing, quality time, making children feel seen, parents free of stress where to go, what to do. It will be designed and planned in a way to be their retreat once they dedicate the time, and feeling no stress to invent something interesting and engaging enough. Innovative dimension goes beyond mainstream practices by incorporating creativity, personalization and customized games. No-screen policy to encourage real conversation and communication.
Developing an innovative family bonding activities project requires a structured approach that combines design thinking, human-centered design, behavioral psychology, observation techniques to identify bonding gaps. Understanding generational and lifestyle differences, identifying family bonding challenges such as digital distraction and lack of time. Establishing project goals including straightening communication and creating lasting memories. The approach also means flexibility since the project should be evolving based on continuous improvement. Through the implementation phase, cross-functional experts will be included and involved. The concept aims emotionally engaging activities, examples of positive behavior, small rewards to encourage participation (e.g. badges, surprises), activities that use music, nature and storytelling. It will ensure that activities are engaging but not overwhelming for different age groups. Families will be encouraged to contribute ideas for new activities and different generations will be engaged in co-designing activities
Involving flexibility, scalability, and cultural relevance, the family bonding activities project could be replicated to different places or groups, making it adaptable for various settings, regions and diverse cultures. The core types of activities such as storytelling, mindfulness exercises, or outdoor adventures such as scavenger hunt, can be adapted to various family dynamics and settings, different regions and both urban and rural environment. The themes of activities are customizable and universal so can be modified to meet local requirement and family preferences.
Team-based challenges can be replicated across various groups, fostering both friendly competition and cooperation among family members. Skill-Sharing Exercises: Encouraging family members to teach each other specific skills (e.g., cooking, painting, and gardening) can easily be transferred to different family setups across the world. Volunteering Initiatives related to community service, these can be localized and scaled according to regional needs (e.g., helping local charities or participating in environmental causes).
These practices can promote overall well-being for families globally. While the core elements remain the same, activities can be easily modified to reflect the local language, culture, and traditions, ensuring that they resonate with a diverse audience. The activities can be adjusted to involve families with different age groups, such as children, parents, and grandparents. The project can provide suggestions for simplifying or enhancing activities based on age and physical ability. The whole project structure can be adapted for different cultural preferences and family traditions.
Team-based challenges can be replicated across various groups, fostering both friendly competition and cooperation among family members. Skill-Sharing Exercises: Encouraging family members to teach each other specific skills (e.g., cooking, painting, and gardening) can easily be transferred to different family setups across the world. Volunteering Initiatives related to community service, these can be localized and scaled according to regional needs (e.g., helping local charities or participating in environmental causes).
These practices can promote overall well-being for families globally. While the core elements remain the same, activities can be easily modified to reflect the local language, culture, and traditions, ensuring that they resonate with a diverse audience. The activities can be adjusted to involve families with different age groups, such as children, parents, and grandparents. The project can provide suggestions for simplifying or enhancing activities based on age and physical ability. The whole project structure can be adapted for different cultural preferences and family traditions.
Concept of the project first of all aims to prevent further estrangement of the family as the core unit of each society and offers a meaningful response to various challenges faced by families worldwide. Focus is on providing the place and activities for improving relationships, communication, and well-being within families. Social isolation is increasing due to urbanization, digital distractions, and busy lifestyles. Families, particularly in urban areas, often experience disconnection from each other despite being physically present. This concept will offer them opportunity to interact meaningfully and bridge the gap caused by technology and hectic routines. The project can incorporate mindfulness, relaxation exercises, or collaborative art to help families de-stress, bond, and improve emotional well-being. Offering bonding activities that involve different age groups (e.g., children, parents, and grandparents) can create shared experiences, improving intergenerational understanding. The project can also include specific activities allowing each generation to contribute their unique knowledge and skills. The global challenge is increasing distraction by digital devices, which can harm communication, reduce quality time, and diminish the emotional bonds between family members.
The year following the application is for further development of the concept, through strategic planning and phasing the preconditions for implementation of the project. The steps include:
• Research and detailed concept development through focus groups survey, understanding bonding challenges, preferred activities and cultural context.
• Identifying gaps and unmet needs
• Design of wide list of interactive activities adaptable to various family structures and engaging all family members, with a focus on cross-generational involvement. Ensure that the activities are adaptable to different ages, family sizes, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Choosing a convenient location for the family bonding activities project
• Designing and developing on site the kits and platform for activities (organizing the environment and inventory in selected location
• Introduce the concept to NGOs, organizations, and governmental bodies that focus on family support, child development, or mental health to gain credibility and extend reach
• Analysis of conditions for financial sustainability. Identify funding models (e.g., subscription services, sponsorships, grants)
• Develop brand identity for the project that resonates with family values and emotional connection
• Create social media page and website
• Crete product which can be transferred occasionally to different locations such as schools, festivals, fairs, local events, national days or holidays celebrations
• Research and detailed concept development through focus groups survey, understanding bonding challenges, preferred activities and cultural context.
• Identifying gaps and unmet needs
• Design of wide list of interactive activities adaptable to various family structures and engaging all family members, with a focus on cross-generational involvement. Ensure that the activities are adaptable to different ages, family sizes, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Choosing a convenient location for the family bonding activities project
• Designing and developing on site the kits and platform for activities (organizing the environment and inventory in selected location
• Introduce the concept to NGOs, organizations, and governmental bodies that focus on family support, child development, or mental health to gain credibility and extend reach
• Analysis of conditions for financial sustainability. Identify funding models (e.g., subscription services, sponsorships, grants)
• Develop brand identity for the project that resonates with family values and emotional connection
• Create social media page and website
• Crete product which can be transferred occasionally to different locations such as schools, festivals, fairs, local events, national days or holidays celebrations
