- Find Meeting Information
- Access help and resources
- Get 24-hour guidance & information
800-934-9518
Sponsored
Family-friendly recovery events are popping up in all corners of the country so that parents in recovery have a place the whole family enjoys. One recent example took place in Ohio, which also has plenty of family-friendly spaces for recovery like AA. In the city of Fairborn, Recovery Plus Community Resource Center held its 12th annual Recovery Rally on Labor Day.
The explosive growth of these events reflects how people know they stay sober faster when their social lives don’t revolve around the bottle. That shift is easier when children can tag along.
In this case, Recovery Plus included balloon artists and face painting for kids plus food and haircuts for free. A raffle gave away items worth up to $600 and a mobile church offered baptisms onsite.
Family Friendly Events
Liquor isolates each family member, not just the drinker. Parents just starting out their sobriety often skip gatherings because they can’t bring their kids nor trust themselves around alcohol. That isolation becomes a relapse risk, and kids are caught in the middle.
Events that center on families close the gap. Parents let their kids see that community life exists without substances.
Family-Friendly Recovery Takes Off
The Fairborn rally demonstrated how it works. Free food removes a budget barrier. Kids’ activities keep the day centered on family rather than recovery per se. Everyday services like haircuts demonstrate that recovery involves the whole person.
Recovery Plus staffers say the point goes beyond entertainment.
That flexibility is a central core for why family-friendly events work. A parent who isn’t ready for a meeting can still show up to a picnic, which opens doors for wider support.
AA Meetings Fit In
Events can open the door, but that connection needs repetition. AA meetings can be that next step. They’re free and happen every day in most towns. Sister programs like Al-Anon offer meetings for family members to give spouses and children room to process what addiction did to them.
Building Community Into Your Recovery Week
Folks in recovery with kids can look for local recovery events through community centers, churches and treatment providers. Regard them as part of your program rather than extras. Bring the family, talk to other parents and let your kids have fun.
Sobriety grows in a community, which grows fastest when the whole family is invited in. Even if there isn’t a recovery event in your area, try AA. AA is very family friendly and often includes loved ones in meetings and outside events.
Take a look through our listings to find AA chapters in any neighborhood in the country. Feel free to also call
800-948-8417
Sponsored
to speak with an expert.
Courtney Myers holds an MS in Technical Communication from NC State. She has more than 15 years of experience as a freelance writer and editor, specializing in a range of topics for a variety of industry verticals. When she isn’t behind the computer, you can find her hiking or spending time with her family.
View ProfilePeter W.Y. Lee is a writer and historian of American history. His primary focus is on the Cold War era. His academic work examines the relationship between youth and popular culture and its impact on U.S. society during the twentieth century.
View Profile