New Resolutions with Your Children

With the New Year, comes new resolutions. This year it is my hope that you will resolve to spend quality time with your child or grandchild. With our busy lives, it is not always easy to spend as much time as we would want with our children and grandchildren. Because of this, we need to make the time we do have to be quality time that will produce the effects we want. It is extremely important for their development and happiness. Quality time says slow down and let your children know they are loved and cared for. It provides opportunities to be heard and validated as being important to you. It connects you and your children, providing them with the feeling of being loved.

– Make time in your daily schedule to connect. Children love to help. We often shelter our children from chores, but truthfully, your child would love to help if you include good communication during the activity. This can include preparing dinner, doing laundry, running errands, etc… Ask your child to help you so you can spend quality time with him/her. Use the time to tell family stories, as well as listening to their tales of the day.

– Everyone is busy, so create a break of 20 to 30 minutes to spend time with your child every day without fail. You can always wake your child up 20 minutes early or talk in bed before turning out lights to create a little extra time.

– Let your children know that you care by writing notes and dropping them in lunch boxes, backpacks or in coat pockets. If you cannot be there in the morning or when they get home, record a short video and leave it for them at the breakfast table. Make it creative for enjoyment.

– Alone time with your child is best when you are doing something you both enjoy. If you have more than one child, enlist the help of dad, grandparents or friends so that once a week you can spend time doing something special with each child. If there is no one to help, arrange the activity for each child separately, even though the other child will accompany you as well. Each child gets their time in turn. Mark your dates down on a calendar and show your children so that they know they are important to you.

I hope you all have a happy New Year!