You hear a lot about “family time,” but what does it really mean, and why is it important? Learn the essentials by reading these tips:
TV time, surprisingly, can be turned into family time. You wouldn’t think that watching a TV show or movie with your children could be counted as family time but, with a little bit of creative effort, it can be. Use commercial breaks to mute the sound and talk about what you’re watching. Share your feelings about whether the story is believable. Ask their opinions about what they think will happen next. See if they can compare what you’re viewing with the story plots in other movies or books.
Turn everyday chores into a time to bond. The key to making quality time out of the most ordinary everyday chores (like cooking, picking up, cleaning, and doing laundry) is to turn them into opportunities to talk with your children. Folding your child’s sports clothes together can lead into a conversation about how the team is doing and how he or she feels about the activity. Grocery shopping can spark an interest in teaching your child to prepare a meal. Even good-natured griping together about how messy a pet is, or how much trash there is to take out that day, can create a kind of quiet kinship and bond between parent and child.
Remember to chat, rather than interrogate. The quickest way to shut down good family time is to turn it into a type of police interrogation. Certainly there may be times when you need to prod your child for answers about things that are concerning you, but make sure that during casual family time together you keep the “interviewing” to a minimum and concentrate on relaxed conversations.
Homework time can be a time to bond, too. Try to schedule your bill-paying and other household paperwork for when your children are doing their homework. Give them a sense that you’re all in it together—it’s just that each of you has a different kind of work. You’ll be providing encouragement just by being with them while they work, and being available if they have questions or need extra help.
One-on-one time is extra special. If you have more than one child, try to find time each week to do something special alone with each of them. It can be as simple as a walk after dinner or an out-of-the ordinary errand (you’d be surprised how many children find it fascinating to go along to the auto mechanic, for example). Just showing them that you value them as individuals can mean the world to them.
Split households need to unite in their commitment. If you and your child’s other parent live separately, try to make an agreement that each parent will work on spending quality family time with each child each week. Discuss how quality time means interacting with the child, not just being in the same household.
Games never go out of style. Board games and card games are ideal ways to get families together to relax and have fun as a group. Look for games that appeal to your child’s interest and age level (garage sales can be goldmines for inexpensive games that kids have outgrown), and set aside a bit of time every week to play a few rounds.
Yes, you’ve got a lot to do—and so do your children. But when you think about it, there’s really no better way to spend your time than by strengthening the bonds between your family members. The pay-off is priceless.
Source: NAESP
