Spending quality time with your child has more to do with ordinary daily life than fancy parties and complicated projects. It’s simple and meaningful interactions, like bedtime stories and family dinners, that are essential for your child’s development and future relationships. In today’s homes, we are spending ALOT more time together than ever (which could or could not be driving you insane right now). The truth is that this time won’t last forever and we should all be making the best of it?

As a parent, you’re preparing them for academic success and rewarding careers. You’re also helping to set the patterns for their adult friendships and romances. You set the tone for the direction of their lives. 

Even if you feel like you’re juggling multiple responsibilities at home right now, there are many opportunities to incorporate quality time into your daily routines. Start with these practical ideas. 

General Principles for Quality Time: 

• Be authentic. Do you feel a little guilty when you see Facebook posts from parents who have a full-fledged 7 am-7 pm schedule of fun? Instead of making comparisons, it’s more constructive to focus on activities that suit your family budget and lifestyle.
• Pay attention. Let your child know how much you care about them. Listen closely to what they have to say. When you’re together, try to be fully present instead of looking at your phone or thinking about your to-do list.
• Show appreciation. Give your child plenty of praise and positive reinforcement. Congratulate them when they bring they show improvement in a subject that has been difficult for them this year. Thank them for being patient with their younger siblings or for setting the table without being asked.
• Discover their interests. Find out what your child likes to do, so you can participate too. You may both enjoy playing video games or listening to bluegrass music. Take advantage of this time to explore new interests together
• Remain available. Quality time can happen anywhere. You’re bound to find promising opportunities as long as you make yourself accessible. 

Practical Examples of Quality Time: 

1. Eat family meals. Dine together as often as possible. If you run into frequent conflicts with weekday dinners, try gathering for breakfast without technology.
2. Share chores. Ask your children to join you when you’re shopping for groceries or painting the garage. Let them help you tidy away their instruments with cable management from Singular Sound. Have them walk the dog with you. You’ll have a chance to talk, and they’ll learn valuable life skills.
3. Schedule one-on-one time. Arrange to spend some individual time with each of your children on a regular basis. You’ll learn more about them and enjoy meaningful conversations that you would otherwise miss.
4. Travel together (when it’s safe to again). Family vacations and driving to soccer practice both provide time to talk while you’re on your way to your destination. Check-in with each other and let the conversation flow naturally.
5. Volunteer as a family. Helping others can draw you closer to your children. Support a cause you both care about or browse online for a local volunteer clearinghouse where you can explore your options. During this time if your family can afford to do so maybe donate $25 to a charity of your children’s choosing. 
6. Take pictures. Face to face communications are the most significant but sharing pictures can help you stay in touch too. Send each other funny or moving images you come across during your day. Build an album you can look through together. We will also look back at this time and laugh at how we had pajamas on at 3 in the afternoon and your little one was covered in finger paints.
7. Connect daily. Even if you work outside the home and see your child for only a few hours most days, quality time pays off as long as you’re consistent. Make it a habit to chat for about 15 minutes when you arrive home or before you go to bed.  

Use quality time to build a positive relationship with your child and give them a solid foundation for becoming a happy and productive adult. Savor the moments you spend together and create memories you both will cherish. 

Question: What are you doing to intentionally spend quality time with your family right now?