We all know by now that quality time is incredibly important to fostering a positive environment and relationship between parents and children. The difficult part, however, tends to be figuring out the best ways to spend that family time. Quality time can look different for each child, so finding a balance can be tricky. To help you out, we’ve listed a few of our favorite tips for better-quality family time. Once you implement some of these in your life, we hope you’ll notice a significant shift in your relationship with your children.
Listen Intentionally
One of the biggest things kids take in is whether or not they feel like people are listening to them. Children won’t open up, spread joy, or show affection if they think the things they say or do go unnoticed. Make an effort to truly listen to everything your child says. Listening is one of the main ways to understand your child, and it can lead to more meaningful conversations between you and the rest of the family.
Start a Hobby Together
A wonderful way to feel connected as a family is by starting a hobby or activity together. You can choose from a wide range of activities, from cooking and crafting to biking and hiking. Try to choose one that your child or children already show an interest in. If your kids all have opposing interests, still try to do something everyone enjoys as a family at some point. When the family learns new things together, it opens the door to exciting family time.
Create a Special Ritual
This can be something very small, such as reading a book together before bed or enjoying a weekly Saturday morning breakfast. The point is to create an event—however big or small—that you and your kid will look forward to each week or every day. It’s a nice way to show the family that you’re invested, no matter how crazy your day has been.
Get Rid of Technology
In a world filled to the brim with technology, it’s hard to go anywhere without some form of technology getting in the way. Nonetheless, it’s imperative to spend time away from technology when you’re trying to enjoy quality family time. Silence your phone and put it away so that you’re not tempted to check your emails or social media—your family’s one-on-one time shouldn’t involve any external distractions. If you use technology while you’re spending time with the kids, you run the risk of preventing them from opening up to you.
Stay Consistent
Finally, our most important tip for better-quality family time is to make sure you stay consistent with your time together. Stick to a family night on the same night a week—don’t make plans on this night, because that is your time to spend together. Those special routines need to happen consistently—it does wonders for creating solid connections between family members.
