Parents Magazine says Free Family Fun is a key ingredient of happy families, according to Kenneth R. Ginsburg, M.D., M.S.Ed., author of A Parents Guide to Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Your Child Roots and Wings.

Kids need a deep-rooted connection with loving adults,  and playing together fosters those connections.

It also lets children of any age see parents in a different—and more relaxed—light. Those positive interactions will keep family bonds strong as kids learn to be independent, says Lisa M. Schainker, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate scientist for Iowa State University’s Partnerships in Prevention Science.

Read what other families do for laughs at Parent’s Magazine Free Family Fun!.

Tags: A Parents Guide to Building Resilience in Children and Teens: Giving Your Child Roots and Wings, Free Family Fun, Parents Magazine