Find out what users favourite family moments are in the home with IKEA

[AbbiCMumsnet]

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From snuggling on the sofa and watching a film, to reading your child a book before they go to bed, the home captures hundreds of small moments in day-to-day life that often bring a lot of joy. With the Christmas season coming up, it’s these kinds of moments that play an important part in the festivities, whether it be making mince pies in the kitchen, or ceremoniously putting the star on top of the tree. With this in mind, IKEA want to hear your favourite family moments in the home, and what makes them special.

Here’s what IKEA have to say:
“Incorporating playful elements into any room creates an inviting space for a whole host of indoor activities. Whether you’re a kid – or a kid at heart – it’s easy to turn your living room into a place for lighthearted fun! Whatever space you have to play with, planning a space where children are free to express themselves boosts their confidence.
Read your favourite book on the sofa, while the rest of the group turns dining room chairs into a game of musical chairs. Or, turn display cushions into an impromptu pillow fight. Simply add matching seating for kids and adults, then the little ones get to imitate grown-ups. Role play is great for developing their social skills. Who wouldn’t feel twenty years older sitting enjoying a cup of tea in a POÄNG chair?”

What are or have been some of your favourite family moments in the home? How have these changed as your children have grown older? Which rooms in your house remind you of the fond memories you’ve created in them? With the winter months closing in, which Christmas traditions in the home do you do as a family - and which are you most looking forward to? Perhaps you have a favourite festive film you watch every year without fail?

However big or small, share your favourite family moments in the home with IKEA on the thread below, and you will be entered into a prize draw where 1 MNer will win a £300 IKEA voucher.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

I just played a snakes and ladder with my 4yo and was really enjoying it. To think she is now counting the dice and moving the correct amount across the bird makes me think how quickly they grow!

Right now, I'm having a bed picnic with my one year old and the dog, they're sitting side by side waiting for bits of toast!

Sunday dinner. During the week we don't all eat together in the evening due to work and being back too late. Saturday we are usually out and about. But Sunday dinner is always us around a table together, no screens.

I love bath time with the kids.

My daughter is a grown up now. We are still very close as I brought her up alone with the support of my father & sister. 22 years ago we all bought little houses next to each other. I put my first IKEA kitchen in & knocked down a wall to create a beautiful white scandanavian open plan kitchen. It’s been the hub of all our 3 houses for all these years. I love to cook - they all love to eat. We’ve had many happy Xmas Parties my kitchen & I always put up my Xmas tree in the corner - with red & white & silver ornaments - they’re vintage now & delicate & beautiful...My happiest memory is a ‘Christmas Camping Night’ 😍 We had when the children were small - with 2 adults & 3 children. We created a huge den in the middle of the kitchen & read Xmas stories & sang carols & ate mini stollen cakes by the soft twinkling light of the tree. It was so magical & so cosy that we didn’t wake up until late morning to find it snowing 😊
❄️ then we all rushed out in excitement in our PJ’s & wellies & coats/hats/gloves to make snow men ☃️❄️
....but I made a snow rabbit 🤣♥️

Last Christmas we swapped our old worn cold leather three-piece for a soft corner unit. Now on cold evenings, my DP and I can snuggle up all together with my two DC and watch films under a furry throw and watch films. It's lovely to be together and more room for a bigger Christmas tree too!

Our kitchen table holds so many memories for me , from high chairs, painting and many a happy meal. Lots of conversations, games and homework have been around the table. It’s my favourite piece of furniture.

My ds and dd used to co sleep. Now they are older they don't share my bed at night, but every morning they come in for cuddles before we start the day. It is the best feeling in the world to be in the middle with one on each side hugging each other tight. No matter if we have over slept or not there is always time for morning hugs like this.

I'm not sure it was MY favourite moment, but my DCs have many fond memories of their den-building phase. Involving duvets and blankets off the beds, every cushion, every item of furniture and a whole heap of rubber bands my whole living room was turned into a massive kiddy camp on a daily basis. Every evening I'd clear it up (so I could get to the TV!) and every day it would be reconstructed.

As my son gets older we plan time together in a more structured way, fir example making an effort to eat at the table without screens.

Our sacrosanct time is a weekly film night. We take it in turns to pick a film and have snacks, again no screens allowed. If we have gets over, they join in but we'll still find time for the three of us on another night. Blankets, candles nice bowls, plates and we make a night if it.

I def missed out as a kid, and as an adult.

As a kid, it was different foster homes, and state homes, the joys of an unwanted kid, by parents, foster parents n even the state homes.

As an adult, I never had kids myself, and it's wasn't until I was 46 I found true love, and their daughter is well grown up.

The only thing I got vaguely on topic...
In a previously relationship, the ex was a god.mother, and I by virtue was an unofficial god father! The child in question (a daughter of the ex's friend), loved MAMMA MIA (yeah I know!) and we'd look after her all day Saturday until Sunday morning. If the ex had gone out, and the child wanted mamma Mia on, we'd both lie on the couch... Usually the film had finished by the time I woke, with the child awake on my belly looking at me (and I snore like 100 bears) but just silently looking. lol

I enjoyed having her over and as I'd never had kids, I counted her as my lil adopted one for those short weekends. After me n the ex split, the ex told her friend, if I went over to see the child, she'd stop having her, and as I knew this helped out the mother who worked Saturdays, I stopped going round.

Miss that lil girl who's grown up now (well about 12) But I enjoyed that first 2 years.

Favourite family moments in the home
When the children were babies-watching them lie on a quilt on the floor learning to roll and then them being startled and thrilled in equal measure when they did it.
Baths in the baby bath in front of the fire in the evening before last feed and bedtime.
Then.
A warm, sweet smelling baby laying her hand on my breast and drifting off to sleep.
Later.
A whole wall of school paintings and calendars and pasta collages and colouring in and the blackboard at child height for drawing on.
All three in clean smart uniform, hair brushed and braided with packed lunch boxes and book bags ready to go. A proud and rare moment.
Now.
The eldest returning from uni for the holidays.
The 15 and 13 year olds occasionally finding me funny.

We have a big family and I love it when we all have a meal together and chat away.
Or when I am downstairs doing jobs and o can hear all the children playing together.

At Christmas the children love making decorations like snowflakes and paper chains and I also love it in the days before Christmas when they are all hiding away to wrap little presents they have chosen for each other.

I've just moved house and my mum bought me a huge soft blanket for my bed. My 9 month old and 3 year old both love it and we have cuddles together under it in the morning, it's so nice to see them interacting together as they get older. I'm looking forward to doing some Christmas baking with my eldest and my mum this year and it's the first year that the 3 year old can really get into the spirit of Christmas.

My two are teenagers now, but we still have movie nights, all snuggled up on the sofas. It's really nice as they are so busy with school/work and social lives, I really value the time we have together. We still eat together a few times a week, which may not sound like much to those with younger children, but it's rare quality time with (almost) no phones.

All piling into the same single bed and reading stories or watching Disney movies together with hot chocolates!

best moments in the home is deffo Christmas day, seeing the little ones run down the stairs , opening their presents! best time

I love baking in the kitchen with my two year old he loves it and keeps him entertained longer than his toys. I can’t wait to see him get excited for Xmas this year and getting him to help me decorate

It's got to be bed time stories with two soapy slightly damp kids fresh and clean from a hot bath

For us it's lazy Sunday mornings. Lounging around in the living room, some on sofas, some on rugs. Games and toys are spilling out of the storage boxes and hot tea and toast is being consumed! Favourite part of the week for us all!

Fridays have always been movie nights for us. I look forward to them all week!
We snuggle up, with pjs and blankets and popcorn and fairylights.
Over the years the films have moved on from the animated kids’ films (like Cars and Minions and Despicable Me) to more grown up fare (Marvel, Mission Impossible and Ready Player One) but the vibe is the same

Fire lit, music on, and all of us sitting on the floor playing a game - perfect!
Or a good family film with blankets and popcorn.

We have just moved into a new house, we are looking forward to making many happy memories here. I was sad leaving the other house as my daughter had been born in that house, right under the Christmas tree.

Not very original, but I do love bedtime (on a good day!). Cuddling up reading stories, then seeing their peaceful sleeping faces, makes my heart melt a little.