SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR CHILD
SPENDING QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR CHILD
Quality time with your child can be defined as a time period when you give your child your full attention. Most parents and families are very busy. Parents may work more than one job, children have school and afterschool activities, homework, shopping, laundry, cooking, and caring for the needs of each child can be overwhelming.
WHY SHOULD YOU HAVE QUALITY TIME WITH YOUR CHILD?
When you give a child your undivided attention you are telling the child that they are loved and they are worthy of being heard. This builds a trusting relationship between you and your child. It also gives you a great opportunity to learn about what your child is thinking. Learning how they are reasoning gives you a better understanding of their behavior Often children may have fears or misunderstandings that affect their behavior; building trust and giving them the opportunity to share their thoughts with you gives you the opportunity to guide them.
WAYS TO BUILD QUALITY TIME INTO YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE
First, do not let the term "quality time" make you feel as though you have to add another thing to your already busy schedule. Here are some ways you can build meaningful, quality time into your busy schedule:
1. Make a schedule. Look at times when you are with your child that you can engage in meaningful conversation
For example: When you are riding in the car to and from child care or soccer practice.
2. Let the child know this time is set aside for them and it is special. Some suggested times: While you make dinner, folding clothes, riding in the car, bedtime or in the moring at breakfast.
3. Set aside a special night that is family time, pizza night, movie night etc.
4. Be consistent, if you set aside a certain time for the child or family, try to make it your priority. Put away your cell phone, and other distractions.
5. Read to your child or children every night. Story time does not need to be lengthy, it can be a short 10 minutes, but it establishs a routine that your child can depend on where they will have your full attention.
6. Be available to help your child with their homework
7. Be silly.
For example: Have a beach night in the winter. Order pizza, wear bathing suits, spread out beach towels to have a picnic in the family room.
8. Tap into your child's imagination, make up stories while you are riding in the car.
9. On a snowy day, bake cookies together. Cooking and baking together is a wonderful time to talk to your child about what they like and don't like. You can also introduce math concepts like measuring.
10. Take a walk together. You will both get exercise and fresh air and the opportunity to talk about what you see on your walk. Make sure you are giving your child your complete attention and stay off your cell phone.
11. Ask your child what they would like to do. You may find that your idea of what your child lilkes is different than yours. Some children like to just sit and talk. Never underestimate the power of your undivided attention.
12. Repetition. You do not have to feel that you always need to come up with new ideas. Young children love routines and repetition. If you find womething works well for you and your child stick with it. (such as pizza night)
Resources
Dr Harley A Rtbart, March, 2012, Parents Magazine.