More often than not, parents are caught up in their tight schedules forgetting their children. Spending quality time with children helps them learn from parents and sharpens their communication and social skills. Quality time is one of the most sought after love languages that strengthens the bond between parents and their children. They feel loved and important.
Here are some ways you can spend quality time with your children.
1. Playing together
A child needs play as part of their growth, it strengthens their creativity, imagination and brain development. This could be one of the ways to spend time with them. Playing together creates a strong bond between them and the parents. Allow the children to take the lead in the activity or the play session. There are different types of plays beneficial to children you can do together or mix it up. Participate as they play and introduce them to other fun games and activities as well. You could include the whole family to make it more fun and interesting.
2. Well defined routines
Routines could be as basic as reading bedtime stories to your children. It could also be regular night time activities like bath time that you do together. Routines are very important for children as it creates a sense of normalcy, nourish the relationship between parents and their children. There are well set up expectations for them, builds confidence and gives them a sense of control, helps in bonding and cultivation of good habits in your children.
3. Doing chores together
Chores can create bonding between children and parents. Learn to involve your children in chores. Either cleaning, cooking or gardening together. Apart from creating a bonding moment, it prepares the children and gives them the necessary skills to take care of themselves in their adulthood. It also strengthens their belief in team work. Remember to have fun while at it since chores can seem a little boring. This can be done by setting a reward system and recognizing their efforts as they go along.
4. Having a hobby that you do together
This could be anything that you all enjoy doing. You could have a sit down with your child and create conversations on what they like and dislike doing to come up with a hobby that you can share. Sharing something you and your child love doing brings you so much closer. You could have some dance sessions, painting, recycling, drawing, cooking or baking or create or craft something together. Cheer them on and make it fun. This also awakens your children’s creative side.
5. Time off gadgets
In this day and age, technology has taken over. From mobile phones, television and video games. As the parent make sure to limit the use of gadgets to spend quality time. Create time where no gadgets are allowed and spend quality uninterrupted time with your children. It could be as easy as being an example and not using your gadgets at a specified time, having a gadget free zone in your home et cetera. Less gadgets means more creative children.
