Fun And Entertaining Quality Time With Our Children Yet It Doesn't Cost An Arm And A Leg

It is in our hands to make the parent-child relationship a priority and connect, even if we have to fight tooth and nail for it.

In today’s busy and preoccupied world, it becomes very hard to spend quality, one-on-one time with our children.

It’s not that kids need less time with us because they have a lot of fun activities to keep them busy instead.

It’s not even so much all the extracurricular activities, friends or work, though those certainly add to the problem.

It’s more about parents not putting enough emphasis on their own importance in their kid’s life or simply they don’t have enough simple, practical ways to connect with them.

There has never been a parent who regretted trying to spend time with their kids and wanting to get close to them.

However, there definitely have been many parents who felt like they failed at it and gave up because the kids just didn’t seem to enjoy the company.

Needless to say that kids aren’t mature enough to appreciate the benefits of a strong parent-child relationship. They don’t have enough perspective to realize that adult influence is healthier than peer imitation.

I can assure u that spending time with our kids our most important job to initiate and we have to keep trying.

Reconnecting with our children is crucial not because they will always think they need it or want it. It’s only because we KNOW they need it and we KNOW we want to be part of their life.

It is in our hands to make the parent-child relationship a priority and connect, even if we have to fight tooth and nail for it. (or fight phones and friends for it)

I don’t claim to know everything or that I do it right. Matter of fact, I am still very much a work in progress who fails and learns something new each day.

What I can bring to the table though, are things that worked for me in my last 10 years of a teacher and a parent .

Here are simple ways to reconnect with your child(ren) that won’t take all day or require much money!

1. Its Very Important To Quietly Get Into Their World

No matter what age, kids want to know you care about them and their “stuff”. They always look for ways to feel wanted, loved and valued.

This is actually a need in every human being, but children are especially vulnerable and their development depends on the adults’ feedback.

If you want to know more about your child in a non-invasive way, ask for permission to just sit/ lie next to him.

Chances are you will get the go ahead and that’s when your job starts:

Be quiet.

Listen, watch, observe.

Engage in some conversation, but let them take the lead. Ask questions about the game or toys so you can really hear what they are thinking.

With older kids, they may just sit quietly next to you and continue to do what they were doing. That’s ok, some kids need a little warm up.

Plus, there’s nothing wrong with letting them know that you just want to be close, next to them. It’s ok to just enjoy the fact that you are together.

Some kids may choose to show you the latest game they have been playing or the funny videos their friends sent them.

It doesn’t matter if you couldn’t care less about Minecraft or if the music they listen to drives you crazy.

They aren’t asking if you like the game or the song. They aren’t just simply telling you about their pony’s breakfast.

They are asking, do you like ME?

Do you care about what I think?

Do you see how I am growing and changing?

What do you think about my new self that’s forming, am I doing ok with it?

If you criticize or talk too much, they will clam up. They won’t feel like sharing and they will feel rejected.

If you constantly shut down the enthusiastic story about G.I. Joe and don’t usually listen to their made-up song, they will not want to tell you deeper secrets later on.

2. We can cook together

It doesn’t matter if it’s boxed cookies or a gourmet meal, just do it together my 4-year-old loves to help. she can pour in the milk or stir the dry ingredients or cut out the biscuits.

For teenagers they can choose a recipe they want to try and your willing to spend time on. After you agree on the recipe, you can send the little ones upstairs with daddy, so u can work together in the kitchen.

Most of all though, we are together while we create, so there is time for kind words, kisses and hugs.

It doesn’t have to be long, and it doesn’t have to be magical. Don’t let the desire for perfection stop you from simple joys.

Get started, dive in with whatever you have and however long you have.

The most important is the relationship, not how the cookies turn out.

3 Be silly

Being silly for quality time? Absolutely.

Kids love laughter and are instantly attracted to anybody who is fun.

You can simply start tickling them, pretend you are a the tickling monster, playing a super fun game that makes everybody roll with laughter will be the best quality time where kids feel loved and cared for .

For older kids they need a little bit different approach, though they also love to laugh and may even like being tickled or wrestling.

How about sitting down with a book that has kids jokes in it and laugh together with your pre-teen?

Or telling them some of the funny stuff they used to say as toddlers?

They may show you a hilarious video or a song that can get you both laughing.

Pillow fights, crazy loud dance parties or water gun fights will do the trick too!

There are no wrong ways to do it, but sometimes it’s just hard to get started.Try one of these ideas and see how many more you will naturally come up with!

4. Go Out On A Date

I am sure you see this recommended a lot, as I do, but what gets me is that I don’t always want to spend a ton of money.

Sure, going shopping in the mall or having a day at a water park is awesome, but I will not be able to do it every day

What could be done instead?

Cheap ice cream cones at a drive through, finishing them on a park bench…

Getting groceries together…

Taking dinner to the garden and eating it as a picnic, just the two of us…

Getting a smoothie at a gas station and drinking it on our way back from school or from the swimming training ,

Playing a board game/cards somewhere other than home…

And if you do have the time and resources for an old-fashioned date, the sky is the limit!

A child will always feel special when given one-on-one attention by the most influential adults in her life!

5. Ask The Right Questions

I would like my kids to always be able to talk to me, but I don’t always know how to exactly initiate it.

One way to get closer is to be always honest and open about yourself and share some stuff with them that lets them know you would understand.

Like when you lied to your mom about breaking that china or hide your report cards .

Kids need to feel like they can relate to you, that you are the same fragile human being as them.

Another way to connect is to ask the right questions.

Sometimes, you need to patiently ask the right questions so you could really hear the raw answers.

Kind of like using the right tool for the right job.

Young kids aren’t at the point where they will have in-depth conversations too often, and many teens are too cool to tell mom how they are really doing

6-Incorporating quality time into the daily routine (bed time or school drop off )

Reading is excellent for development, even if your child is not yet able to read by themselves. If they can, great! Take turns and find books with short, engaging chapters to read one or two per night. Make it more special by including their favorite toy, creating a special reading place, or even include the family pet who could sit with you whilst you read and enjoy a book together.

Play with your child, even before you drop her off at preschool. Every little bit of time makes a positive impact! Count cars , read number plates and try to find your favorite colour.

While I believe that it is our responsibility as parents to initiate quality time together, it sure feels great when your child plans it all out from time to time.

If you haven’t yet, start regularly adding simple ways to spend quality time with your child! I promise you will never look back.

Share with me in the comments, how do you reconnect with your child?