Ways to spend quality time with your kids

Who on earth does not want to be called the ‘best parent in the world’? But achieving this special tag is sometimes harder than you can ever imagine. Though some people hold inborn qualities of becoming a perfect parent, some need to toil really hard for becoming so. But the moment you are considered the greatest father or mother by your kid it seems to be the best happiness or reward you can ever receive. Having a perfect balance of all qualities of a good parent can only help you cross the hurdle of this reward.

Spending quality time is extremely crucial

When you spend real good time with your children you will surely progress towards becoming their closest friend. And that will largely help you be their best ‘friend, philosopher and guide’. Infants need extra care whereas teens require special mental support from their parents mainly during their adolescent period. Otherwise they may end up becoming stubborn, unruly or indifferent. This is why you need to spend a particular time of each day with your little ones even if you are too busy a person with your professional work.

Ideas to create quality, uninterrupted time with kids

There are various effective ways of spending quality time with the most important ones of your life i.e. your children. No matter what time of the day you spend with them they are always happy being with you. Give at least one hour of time every single day to the small ones and do not forget to include the whole Sunday also. When you have kids at home, holidays must mean being with them only. But this does not mean you cannot occasionally go out with your friends. Here are multiple ways you can spend time with your little ones.

Eat at least one meal together: If you are a working parent it is difficult for you to have lunch with your kids unless you work on night shifts. So at least try taking one meal with your family and having a simple chit chat while having food will strengthen your relationship witheveryone in the family including children. It is studied that teenagers who have breakfast or dinner with their parents perform better in school and enjoy a good night’s sleep.

Play games: Playing outdoor games is necessary to build better rapport with children. They also enjoy playing simple indoor games like chess, puzzles, video games etc. with their parents. They are the happiest ones when they can defeat you in those games. As a parent you also instill sportsmanship qualities in them.

Exercise together: Take children for jogging or morning walk or even for swimming in the pool. You can go to the park cycling with them and exercise there. Even if you perform simple free hand work outs or yoga, ask them to participate with you. This will not only bring them closer to you but also keep both you and them healthy and fit.

Pray together: They say the family that prays together, stays together. Prayer is important I feel. No matter how old your kids are, it is never late to start. With toddlers it can be a sentence prayer, “God, give me courage to …”, “God I thank you for….”. But with older kids, share your highs and lows with them; ask them theirs and then pray for them together.

Go out for shopping: Be it grocery shopping or purchasing clothes, gifts for other occasions take your children with you so that you get to spend time with them. This will enable you to know their choices and how they behave in public places. 

Other benefits

Apart from the above mentioned benefits there are various other advantages of spending time with your infants and teens at home. When they stay psychologically closer to their parents, teenagers tend to be less likely to get addicted to smoking, boozing or doing drugs. They stay away from suicidal thoughts and misbehaviors. You will encourage good behaviors and manners through this. They will realize how important it is to be disciplined and what way they can be so.

Spending time with your teens and kids offers you the opportunity to love them more and also to be loved more intensely. They feel highly secured hence perform surprisingly well in all challenges of their life. Support them and make them feel strong since you are there holding their hands and walking side by side. Show interest in each of their activities even for the shortest while and most importantly do be kind, friendly and warm to them for each moment you spend together.

A chance meeting with an ex Udgam parent is worth mentioning. She and her husband said they have nicknames for their kids like no one else has! The family time spent on road trips and family trips is invaluable. It's often an adventure, the family can never forget, and it's a great chance for them to connect with their kids.