Quality Time With Family – 13 Tips To Create More With Your Kids
Want to know how to nurture more quality time with family? Here are 13 amazing tips to create quality time today.
Let’s chat about creating quality time with family.
Now I think we all know that spending quality time with your child has more to do with ordinary daily life than fancy parties and complicated projects, right?
It all comes down to the simple, every day meaningful interactions we have with them, like bedtime stories and family dinners.
These are the essential interactions that will help with your child’s development and foster healthy future relationships.
As a parent, I know that one of your goals may be to prepare your kids for academic success and rewarding careers.
But did you know that just as important are the patterns you set within your home for healthy adult friendships and romances?
This comes from the time you spend with your kids and the attention you devote to them.
Even if you feel like you’re short on time and juggling multiple responsibilities at home or the office, I want you to know that there are many opportunities to incorporate quality time into your daily routines.
Not sure where to start? That’s okay.
You can start with these simple yet practical ideas.
General Principles for Quality Time:
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TIP # 1 – Be authentic.
Do you ever feel a little guilty when you see Facebook posts from parents who take their children on exotic vacations or treat them to expensive hobbies?
Yeah, you are not alone.
But instead of making comparisons, I want you to know that it is more constructive to shut down Facebook and all your social media apps and focus on the people around you.
What activities CAN YOU DO that suit your family budget and lifestyle? Did you know sometimes the best things in life are free?
Be authentic and open with your kids while doing activities that suit your budget, even if it’s just playing board games and snuggling on the couch together while you watch a movie.
QUALITY TIME WITH FAMILY
TIP # 2 – Pay attention.
Let your child know how much you care about them by PAYING ATTENTION TO THEM.
Listen closely to what your child has to say.
Are you really hearing their words and watching their expressions?
When you’re together, try to be fully present instead of looking at your phone or thinking about your to do list. Seriously, I recommend that you resist the temptation and PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY.
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TIP # 3 – Show appreciation.
Give your child plenty of praise and positive reinforcement when it is called for (and hey, even just for fun because you love them!).
Congratulate them when they bring their grades up in a subject that has been difficult for them.
Thank them for being patient with their younger siblings or for setting the table without being asked.
Look for the good things that they do every day (there is ALWAYS something there to find because your kids are inherently good and kind and worthy of your love and praise!)
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TIP # 4 – Discover their interests.
Find out what your child likes to do, so you can participate too.
Isn’t that a novel idea, right?
I mean, we’re interested in what our friends and partner do for fun so why not show the same interest in your kids?
You may both enjoy playing video games or listening to same music. FYI: my son Jake and I both LOVE Emimen and Twenty One Pilots.
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TIP # 5 – Make updates.
Remember that your child’s needs will change over time (just like you too – we are all evolving humans!).
As such, be prepared that as they grow from a toddler into a tween into a teen and young adult, they will expect and deserve more independence and freedom, but they’ll probably still welcome an invitation to practice driving or watch a favorite sport with you.
Be willing to make adjustments as required.
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TIP # 6 – Remain available. Quality time can happen anywhere.
When it comes down to it, the easiest way to make sure quality time happens is to be available to it.
You’re bound to find more promising opportunities to spend time with your kids as long as you make yourself accessible and open to those opportunities.
Practical Examples of Quality Time:
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TIP # 7 – Eat family meals.
I recommend dining together as often as possible.
If you run into frequent conflicts with weekday dinners, try gathering for breakfast or catching up on weekends for a main meal together.
QUALITY TIME WITH FAMILY
TIP # 8 – Share chores.
Ask your children to join you when you’re shopping for groceries or painting the garage.
You’ll not only have a chance to talk and hang out but your kids will learn valuable life skills at the same time.
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TIP # 9 – Schedule one-on-one time.
Arrange to spend some individual time with each of your children on a regular basis. These date nights are so much fun!
You’ll learn more about your kids (trust me, there is ALWAYS something new to learn) and also enjoy meaningful conversations that you would otherwise miss.
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TIP # 10 – Travel together.
Family vacations and driving to soccer practice both provide time for you and your kids to chat.
Isn’t it funny how much more your kids will talk while you’re on your way to your destination?
Use this time in the car to check in with each other and let the conversation flow naturally.
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TIP # 11 – Volunteer as a family.
Helping others can also draw you closer to your children.
If possible, find a cause that you both support and care about or browse online for a local charity you would love to help.
My kids and I both LOVE lending money to Kiva (where you make a loan to an entrepreneur in a third world country across the globe for as little as $25).
I let the kids choose who they would like to give their micro-loans and we keep giving out more loans to people each time.
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TIP # 12 – Take pictures.
Face to face communications are obviously the most significant way of connecting with your kids but sharing pictures can help you stay in touch too.
Send each other funny or moving images you come across during your day.
The funnier and sweeter, the better!
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TIP # 13 – Connect daily.
Even if you work outside the home and see your child for only a few hours most days, quality time pays off as long as you’re consistent.
Remember it doesn’t need to be super long – just intentional.
Make it a habit to chat with your kids for about 15 minutes when you arrive home or before you go to bed.
One on one time 100% focused on your child – it will be so worth it!
In the end, I really recommend that you make sure to spend quality time with your kids every day.
This really is the quickest way to build a positive relationship with your kids and give them a solid foundation for becoming a happy and productive adult.
Isn’t that what we all want as parents?
Savor those precious moments you spend with your kids because they go ALL TOO QUICKLY.
It is up to us to intentionally create memories with our kids while we still can.
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I’m Frances Vidakovic – a mindset & action coach for quietly ambitious women who want to stop overthinking and finally take aligned action. I help women achieve their goals and follow through on what matters, without sacrificing their sanity or soul.