Making the most of the time spent together is a great way to achieve a healthy family unit. Having fun together and knowing that each family member is valued, helps to bring balance to the hectic lives of working parents.

    • Try to have a family dinner every day but, no matter what, make a full family attendance meal mandatory at least once a week. Turn off the TV and switch off all mobiles. Not only will you spend time together as a family but each member will also get the gift of everyone’s total presence for that time.
    • Schedule family time at least once a week. Do something that’s fun. Go out for ice cream, watch a favourite movie, play a favourite game – as long as everyone is involved.
    • Be in the moment whether it’s while carpooling, running errands or walking home from school. Use this time for joking around, catching up on each other’s day, outlining a problem or brainstorming solutions to problems; try to make sure everyone knows that the lines of communication are open – despite a hectic schedule. Children feel more loved when they are listened to and taken seriously and they are also more likely to follow the rules if they feel they’ve been involved in creating them.
    • The flow of the day goes a lot smoother when everyone knows what is expected of him or her around the house. Once children can read, develop a list of chores/daily responsibilities and post them where they are highly visible. Teach your children to do their own laundry, sort their dirty clothes, fold their clean clothes, match socks, etc. on an age-appropriate basis.
    • Even the busiest of parents should be able to find time for a three-second hug, whether it’s first thing in the morning, straight after work or a cuddle at bedtime.
    • When tucking your children into bed at night, take a few minutes to ask them about the happiest and saddest parts of their day. Don’t try to find solutions, just listen. Then share yours. You may be surprised to hear what they say. Very young children need 10 to15 minutes of uninterrupted time with you every day and after the age of six, 30 minutes to an hour.
    • Younger children love listening to a parent read to them and studies have shown that reading with children will help them to read too.
    • Try to persuade teenagers to go out with you once a month – but don’t be disheartened if they shun you to be with their friends.
    • To help your child thrive at school while also spending time with them, get stuck in with their homework.
    • Create one-on-one time for each child to do something special with just Mom or Dad.

All positive time spent with your children – whether long or short – is valuable. Don’t be stingy with it!

 

Sources
http://enlightenme.com
www.familylife.com
www.mirror.co.uk
www.nikkibush.com