Spending Quality Time with Kids
When I was little, we lived for those moments when my dad would look at one of us and say, “Want to go for hot chocolate?” He always chose a different kid so we all got equal chances to have a “date” with Dad and those hours spent in the local coffee shop were very special moments for all of us.
Now that my kids are getting older and most definitely vying for my time, I’m finding that it’s a good idea to spend one on one time with each of them. I homeschool my 4 year old, which means the little guy (nearly 3) gets left out, so I’ve started alternating taking one of them out with me to do chores or just making the time to sit down with my little guy and pay attention to him while his brother is out playing or otherwise occupied.
Sometimes it’s not the amount of time . . . it really is the quality. As work at home moms, we find ourselves rushing from task to task, trying to focus on multiple things at once and often we don’t pay a lot of attention to our kids. You might be there for them all the time, but when was the last time you sat down with your child and paid attention ONLY to them, without running over deadlines and to do lists in your head?
Here are a few ideas to up the quality time you spend with your children.
Bedtime Chats. Every kid LOVES to delay bedtime, so let them! Snuggle up together on the bed for a few minutes and talk about their day. Even older kids will tend to talk at this hour and you’ll really connect with your kids.
Dates. Just like my Dad used to do with me, I now take my boys out on individual dates. Just getting an orange juice or a hot chocolate and talking about life over your drinks is a great way to build a bond with your child.
Special Nights. My mom used to do this with us, as well. If you have more than one kid, assign each one a night that they and only they, get to stay up for an extra 30-60 minutes to do something with you. They get to choose the activity and for their special night, you are 100% focused on them.
Mealtimes. Make sure you actually sit down for at least one meal a day as a family. I know I tend to feed the kids lunch and then later I sit down at the computer with a sandwich . . . we’re working on eating lunch and dinner together these days! Interesting discussions can come up during meals.
Cooking and Chores. Last night, as I was making supper, my 4 year old told me he was going to cook. He got his chair, climbed up by the stove and demanded I let him cook the green beans. Now, he’s particularly good at this sort of things (he’s been scrambling eggs under supervision since he was 3), so I handed him the wooden spoon and he carefully stirred the beans, added garlic and sesame seeds and then ate a big plate of them. It was something that the two of us really enjoyed doing together. Whether it’s folding clothes, cooking or scrubbing the shower, invite your kids to join you . . . even if they just sit on the edge of the tub and chat while you scrub. 
How do you spend quality time with your kids?
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You really have a good blog I look forward to reading more in the future
Yes quality time is a must for a family in order to strenghten the relationship