8 Simple Adjustments to Spend Quality Time with Your Child

8 Simple Adjustments to Spend Quality Time with Your Child

We as parents are so often caught with work and household chores that we sometimes forget to spend quality time with our children. The nurturing and caring needed during the child’s growing years through puberty and all the way through early adulthood is very crucial in laying down the foundation for your child’s future well-being. Learning how to accomplish this will make it easier for both parents and children to spend and enjoy these quality times together. Let's go through 8 Simple Adjustments to Spend Quality Time with Your Child to get closer and enjoy the parenthood in true sense.

Nothing that you can teach them is more important than the love you can give them.

Give them Time; Care for them; Shower Love; Children learn the most by observing you..

Make the time

Obviously, you first need to make the time. I know it is easier said than done, but try to keep aside some ‘uninterrupted’ time for them in the evening

Make the time worthwhile

The time spent with them must be quality time. Both of you sitting in front of the TV is not that. Talk about the day, ask them how their day was, play a board game like scrabble, ludo or carom.

Turn off interruptions

You cannot spend quality time if your mobile keeps ringing or you one eye on the TV news Switch your phone off. Let your colleagues and friends that between such time everyday you are unavailable. Turn off television, unless your time is about watching your child’s favorite show. Yes, sharing the time doing something your child likes is a quality time.

Don’t force it

Both should look forward to it. If your attitude is “Oh no! Here goes another boring hour”, it’s better not making it a routine. Your child too has wants. Find out if the time frame suits her. It is not quality time if she is ruing missing her favorite cartoon or playing with her friends.

Be sincere

When spending quality time with your child, listen intently and be sincere. A child knows too well when you are not paying attention to what he or she has to say. If you are thinking of what to cook or wondering if whether all the required groceries are there, you are not being sincere.

Think of different activities you can do together

Quality time together does not only mean having a conversation with your child or playing a game of carom. It can include a variety of activities like a movie, baking together, shopping or even a lazy walk round the neighborhood.

Don’t be rigid with timings

Okay one hour is over. Trriiing Bell’s gone, quality time over… let’s go back to our lives!! Sounds funny, but many of us are guilty of it. We don’t express so much in words than by our behavior. The time could be half an hour today, an hour tomorrow, a full day the day after. As long as it is spent by both of you are enjoying the moments.

Speak with them

This is the best time to find out what, actually. Your child likes doing, what are her dreams, her fears… who is her favorite actor, what’s her favorite color… if you have a funny or nice memories, share with them. Children love hearing tales about their parents when they were young.

“Your children need your presence more than your presents.” – Jesse Jackson

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Draw a Path-Let Them Lead

Draw a Path-Let Them Lead

As parents, we must allow our children to be more independent. They can only be so, if we give them some breathing space. They must learn to fall and pick themselves up. If we always hold their hand, they will remain in a protected shell, and will never be able to achieve. Be more like a coach and less like a captain. So, Draw a Path-Let Them Lead

“The path of development is a journey of discovery that is clear only in retrospect, and it’s rarely a straight line.” ― Eileen Kenned

Trust them

Know where your child is. If you allow your child the freedom, he will be open with you and share where he is. If your child is going for a movie, find out which film and which theatre. Don’t pass judgment unless it is a ‘strictly for adults’ film. The more you trust children, the more responsible they will be.

Give them space

There is also another aspect of this ‘hanging-out with friends’. The events become too much and too frequent. Act quick but cautiously. If they are spending too much time away from home, get them to bring their friends over. But once they are at home, please give them their space and don’t hang around or eavesdrop.

Talk with them

Children today have the greatest ‘guru’ of all-the internet. Hence they have access to more information than one can imagine. Under such circumstances the best option would be to keep an ‘open mind’ with them. Healthy dialogue is the age-old solution.

Involve them

Decision making with regard to the child’s welfare is usually one-sided. Parents like to decide for their kids. Today children are much more aware and worldly wise. Involve them in your decision making, especially if they are affected by the outcome.

Let them decide

Decision making may sound simple and just be something as easy as a yes or no. Yet your child must be made aware of the fact that whatever decision she takes will not only affect her but also the others around.

Encourage a fixed routine

Encourage children to have a fixed routine-from the time they wake up to the time they retire for the day. Discuss the benefits of such a routine. For example, suggest that following a routine would help make the child understand the essence of time management.

Treat them as special

Every child is unique. Don’t compare them to other children or to their siblings. That’s the biggest blow to self esteem. Not everyone can be a Sachin Tendulkar. Your child can also be one of the other ten cricket players in the Indian Cricket team. Every child has a special talent. Search it out and help cultivate it.

Show appreciation

Children must be applauded for goals achieved and target met. Yet one must be cautious not to introduce a carrot and stick policy within the relationship. Sit them down and explain to them when they have erred. Teach them by example.

Know their friends

Make sure you know who their friends are. Don’t be judgmental. Invite them over, get to know them.

Be a friend

Listen to your ward. Let them know from the start that they can come to you with anything and you will not judge them. During adolescence and puberty they undergo so many changes. Many a time they cannot handle them and need a sympathetic and understanding ear. Be that friend to them!

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