Today’s blog on Spend Quality Time With Your Kids by Ms Namita Jain, PRT

  

Spend Quality Time With Your Kids

Want to improve your relationship with your child while encouraging their social and emotional development?

 Spending time with them can do these things—and more.

Whether you're a parent who works outside the home or one who works at home, one thing is certain: Life is busy. Parents often find themselves zooming from one task to another, with little or no break. We are the keepers of schedules, the makers of meals, and the menders of boo-boos. We are also world-class entertainers, homework helpers, teacher's aids, and (unofficial) social workers. And let's not forget our most important job: chauffeur. Driving our children from school to extracurricular activities is a job in and of itself.

Of course, this leaves most of us with little downtime. There aren't enough hours in the day for the tasks at hand. But the chaos of day-to-day life doesn't just impact us, it also impacts our kids and the quality of the time we get to spend together. Research has found that quality time impacts the parent-child relationship, which ultimately affects children's social and emotional development.  Luckily, there are lots of great, low-stress ways to spend quality time with your kids.

Read on for nine different ways to get quality time with your kiddos that help you get to know them better and make them feel appreciated, supported, loved, and understood.

Have a Daily Check-In

As soon as your kids get home from school, you ask how their day was, and, 9 times out of 10, you'll get the run-of-the-mill, "It was good." But was it really? Whether it's over dinner or when you're tucking them in for bed, take time to find out how their day really was.

One way to do this is to ask a mix of open-ended and specific questions: What was the most interesting thing they learned in class? Did they try something new at lunch? Who did they play with at recess? If you could change one thing about your school, what would it be? The key to these conversations is making them less of a routine questioning and more of a launching pad for quality time, talking about things that are important in your child's day-to-day routine.

Use Special Rituals Like Bath Time and Bedtime

Let's face it: Life moves more smoothly when routines and rituals are in place. They help us—and our children—know what to expect, and what comes next. But instead of using this time to hurry along the moments before bed, for example, use it to create quality time with your kids.

Sing to your child during their bath, picking a favorite song or a new tune you both just heard. Make teeth brushing a game. If your child is into outer space, for example, you can pretend they are destroying asteroids with each and every stroke. And read a story at bedtime. If your child is older, let them read to you. When you take time to share things that pique their interest, they feel heard, seen, and appreciated.

Celebrate Achievements and a Job Well Done

Anytime you have the opportunity to celebrate your kids, do it! And no, we aren't just talking about when they get an "A" on a test or perform exceptionally well at a sporting event. Have they stepped outside their comfort zone to try something new? Did they give their all and put lots of work and thought into a project? Celebrating the effort they put in, their successes, and how they learned from mistakes are all great opportunities for quality time that also reinforces positive behaviors.

Let Your Kids Choose

Ask your child how they want to spend time with you. Do they want to play together, color together, or craft together? Maybe throw a baseball, play a board game, or have a dance party? Giving them the reins isn't just empowering, it can be a pleasant surprise (i.e., you might learn something about their interests you didn't know before)

Keep It Low Tech

There is no escape from technology in your day-to-day life. From school and work to the nightly news and winding down, screens are everywhere. They play a role in our lives but we can all use a break.4

Baking together or reading a book are great ways to bond. Getting outside to bike, walk, or hike keeps kids active and engaged. You can do a scavenger hunt or obstacle course, too. The important thing is to choose an activity that encourages healthy media habits, stimulates the senses, and fosters connection.

Have a Day Date

Plan some time in your schedule that's free, and do a fun activity. You can paint pottery, go to the library, or even take a picnic lunch to the playground. Quality time isn't about the amount of time (or money) you spend together, it's about what you do together to create memories.

Plan a Family Movie or Game Night

Another fun way to spend quality time with your kids is to introduce them to games and shows you grew up with as a kid. Many games involve strategy and math skills, which help make learning fun. Many old shows and movies tell timeless tales and teach valuable lessons too. Both you and your kids will be amazed at how quickly time flies when you're having fun together.

Create and Cook Together

Even the pickiest of eaters will be on board with the opportunity to help plan or make their own meals and snacks. Cooking and creating together is a real-time example of showing your children that their ideas and opinions matter.

Offer a Yes Day

When parents offer their kids a "yes day," they're essentially agreeing to say yes to every request their kids have (within reason) for an entire day. While some parents might be furrowing their brows and rolling their eyes at the thought, saying yes for an entire day won't be the headache you anticipate. There is even research that supports this.

Research has found—as far as what leads to happiness in people and not just children—that saying 'yes' gives a sense of control in one's environment, and children often don't have a sense of control," says Kamala London, PhD, a developmental psychology professor at the University of Toledo in Ohio.

By Namita Jain