We are often busy and sometimes it is hard to keep a balance between work, school, and spending time with our families. At ProEDU Consulting, we want to focus on this topic considering how crucial it is to spend time with your children in order to promote healthy development, social emotional well being, and social skills.
Child Psychiatrist Gail Fernandez, MD confirms that “children from birth to adulthood need time and attention from their parents” The interaction that children have with their parents while they are growing up is crucial for every “kid’s mental health and adjustment to life.”
Spending quality time with your children will benefit everyone in different ways: your children will feel more loved; they will be able to model your behavior; you can observe and learn about your children’s strengths and weaknesses in order to better guide them; you can both take advantage of different opportunities for conversation; it will give you the chance to build stronger bonds between you and your children; and more.
When we say “quality time” we are talking about the time you spend with your children where you can both enjoy a specific activity together, one that interests you all while showing full engagement from both sides. It’s not only about having fun, but about learning from each other and sharing experiences, thoughts, and feelings.
The organization Building Blocks for a Healthier Community says that “the whole point of spending time with your children is to share your own values, beliefs, and plans with your child”. Conversations become one of the most important “quality time” activities, with good and active talking and listening. Conversations can happen anywhere, but there is certainly a long list of activities that we can recommend for you to do with your children that will promote the quality time we are looking for:
– Create a family night: watch a movie together, camp outside or inside, read stories, order in.
– Let your child choose his or her interests: listen to your child’s ideas on what you can do together based on his/her interests.
– Assign family responsibilities: share daily chores like feeding the pet, watering the plants, or setting the table.
– Have any meal together: this is a perfect moment to have great conversations and share experiences and feelings.
– Read together: this could happen at any time of the day or before bed time. Read to your child, or he/she can read to you.
– Do things together: play, eat, read, and exercise together.
– Learn and share hobbies: ask your child what they like to do and get involved.
– Spend time playing: board games, arts and crafts, pretend play, dance, and sing.
– Go out with the family: go to concerts, movies, shows, fairs, and parks.
