Tips For Spending More Quality Time With Your Child
A busyness epidemic has taken over our lives. There's never been a busier time - and it's hurting our relationships.
Whether you are a working parent or a stay-at-home parent, I bet you feel guilty from time to time for not spending more time with your child.
Luckily, studies show that the quality, not the quantity of time, matters most in building relationships.
Therefore, if you're striving to get more quality time with your kid, here are some tips to make it happen, even when you're busy.
What does quality time with your family means?
In summary, quality time is any time spent intentionally and meaningfully with your kids.
A UCLA study says, "Everyday activities may afford families quality moments, unplanned, unstructured instances of social interaction that serve the important relationship-building functions that parents seek from 'quality time."
For example, listening to them moaning about their teachers during dinner or doing everyday household chores together are great ways to connect with your child.
Therefore, spending quality time with kids doesn't need to be complicated.
You don't need to devote uninterrupted hours or plan a trip to Disneyland to bond with your child.
However, to make these moments meaningful, you must set aside distractions such as phones, TV, or unwanted thoughts.
Instead, it would help if you focused solely on your child and what you're doing together.
I know this is not easy to achieve in our constantly connected world, but it's crucial to try.
When we give our children our undivided attention, even if just for a few minutes, we message that they're important to us and value their presence.
Why quality time matters
If you surveyed all the parents worldwide, the vast majority probably would like to spend more quality time with their kids.
But quality time isn't just about enjoying your parent-child relationship.
Above all, when you spend quality time with your kid, you're also:
Strengthening your relationship
Understanding your kid better
Improving their emotional development and behavior
At every stage of your child's life, it's vital to keep your connection strong so that you can work through issues as a family.
Without these ties, you may try to discipline your kid or discuss a severe problem with low trust.
How to cultivate quality time with your child
Turn Off Your Tech
It's incredible how many parents miss opportunities to connect with their children because they're catching up on email or scrolling through Instagram.
Though everybody needs a break sometimes because let's face it, parenting is no joke.
There are times when we should rethink how much time we spend on technology.
Instead of sitting on the couch on your phone at night, could you spend a quality half-hour with your kid?
Trying a digital detox now and then may help you feel less overwhelmed, giving you more time with your kids.
2. Have a Daily Check-in
A routine daily check-in can be a jumping-off point for more conversation and connection.
For example, a check-in at breakfast, after-school, or before bed can get you in the habit of learning how your child is doing.
Pro tip: Avoid the opener, "how was your day?" This question is so general that kids will respond in the same undetailed way.
Instead, ask more specific questions.
Such as about the most exciting thing they learned at school or what they would rate their day on a scale of 1 to 10. And why?
These are questions that can motivate your child to engage in a conversation.
3. Use Chore-Time to Connect
Chores don't do themselves.
As you take care of tasks around the house, like doing the dishes, or cooking dinner, ask for your kid's help.
In most cases, children don't mind if you do chores with them while chatting and having fun.
Asking your child to help with laundry is an example of how to spend more time with them while doing chores.
You can fold the laundry and ask your child to put it away.
Another example is to help them with their schoolwork.
You can establish a strong bond with your child by supporting them with their homework.
4. Prioritize Mealtime
While a shared mealtime isn't always possible, you might find a way to prioritize it because the benefits are endless.
Research suggests that adolescents who have frequent family meals report greater family connection and parental monitoring and communication.
If this is not enough to convince you, the family dinner project reveals that kids who eat with their families do better in school and have a more extensive vocabulary.
Moreover, there are health benefits to sharing meals as a family.
Another study found that children with regular family meals have lower rates of depression, anxiety, and eating disorders, healthier diets, and better cardiovascular health.
Whether that means lunch once a week or occasional breakfast in the morning, try to gather the family to share quality time at the table – without electronics!
5. Create a Bedtime Ritual
Bedtime rituals can have an extraordinary impact on kids as they grow up.
A Bedtime story is a classic way to spend quality time with your child.
And it doesn't have to be reading only; you can tell stories or even listen to an audiobook.
It's an excellent opportunity for you and your child to snuggle and spend quality time together.
Nevertheless, quality time with your child should be enjoyable for both of you.
So, if your kid doesn't like to read, try something else to have fun.
For instance, you can try doing a puzzle or talking about their day.
The most important thing is that you both are present and enjoying each other's company.
Keep the routine consistent whenever possible, so your children look forward to this moment with you.
6. Listen Up!
It's also possible that your kid is already trying to connect without you realizing it.
Having a thousand things going through your head during the day is normal.
But try to keep your ears open as you work, do chores, and relax at home.
Your kids may be inviting you to play, asking you a question, or showing body language that means they want to spend time with you. Listen up!
Children usually have a lot to say; sometimes, all they need is for you to pay attention.
By listening to your child, you will also get to know them better and understand their concerns, feelings, and thoughts.
You should also set aside gadgets and anything that can take away your attention from your kid.
Hence, try to put them away and let your child know you're 100% there when talking to you.
7. Use Phantom Time
Phantom time is another parenting hack you can take advantage of.
Use it to connect when your kid is fast asleep, at an after-school activity, or focused on homework.
For example, you could write a note to leave in their lunchbox, draw a picture and put it under their pillow, or save a silly video to share later.
This quality time will make your kid feel valued and unique, knowing that you're thinking of them even when you are apart.
8. Have Fun Together
Finally, try to put only a little pressure on how you spend time with your child.
The best way to connect is to let go and enjoy each other's company.
Playing together is a great way to worry less about making quality time.
You can go outside and play catch, build a pillow fort, or bake cookies.
The important thing is that you're both present and enjoying each other's company.
In summary, watch a movie at home, head to a cinema session, play board games, dine out, go to a park, or take a walk together.
It's a time to play and enjoy yourselves without much planning.
Finding ways to spend quality time doesn't have to be complicated.
You can do anything that suits your family, as long as you're together and present.
Final takeaway
In short, we know quality time is hard to come by every day.
Yet, you can make more space for connection and conversation in your schedule with these tips above.
Spending quality time with your children shouldn't feel like a burden or a task you must finish before the end of each day.
Instead, it's more like an opportunity to catch up, play, and create positive memories while strengthening your bond as parent and child.
And it's possible to achieve this through mundane activities we usually don't plan.
Such as during a meal, while playing a game, or watching a movie.
What matter is how involved you'll be in that situation.
Long-lasting memories are made from everyday moments and interactions that we usually take for granted.
Though it's normal to put off the time when things get hectic, your relationship with your child should always be a priority.
