[nancynic]

Hi,

Here's the beginning of a list of ways to spend quality time with children -

Each week, cook with your children - or cook in pairs (father and daughter one week, mom and son the next).
Watch TV selectively and talk about what you are watching.
Take you kids to your workplace on the weekend and show them what you do.
Enjoy nature together - visit a bird sanctuary before dawn and keep bird feeders by your kitchen window.
Visit county fairs together.

We'd love to hear what you do with your kids, so please feel free to add to the list ~

NancyNic
Parent Forums Moderator

[mckenna]

i recently realized that because things had been getting very hectic around our house, while i was spending time with my son, i was also doing a hundred other things at the same time. you know, multi -tasking. this was not working for our family. i, just this week, in fact, decided not to answer the phone between 6 and 7:30 in the evening. after 7:30 i can answer the phone but not return any calls until after the kids go to bed. this has really decreased what is going on in our house and helped me to focus more fully on my children. sometimes you just don't realize that the time you are spending with your children may not be the qualitity they deserve. i can see a much improved change in my son's behavior in the little time i have been doing this. sometimes in our hectic world, we need to stop and smell the roses.

[kay]

For us, it's as simple as eating dinner together, at the table. It seems that every time I get lazy and allow dinner on the sofa, in front of the tv, just because it's easier for both of us - it doesn't take long before I'm feeling that disconnect. Another one for us is walking the dogs together - a good time to get away, relax, and talk.

[nancynic]

Thanks so much for your post. Really paying attention to our children is so important. We all know how it feels when we want someone's attention and that attention is scattered in several directions. Really being present with our kids shows them how much they mean to us! I love the idea of not answering the phone during certain hours and also when we are engaging with our kids!

NancyNic

[jodyk]

Since it's just my fs & me, I'd like to think all our time together is "quality" time -- although I know it's not, like when he's watching his videos (mostly "Rugrats" episodes & Winnie the Pooh) & I use the time to catch up on other things or make dinner. I do try to sit with him, too, though.

I always tell him what the plan is for the day, and if we're shopping, I try to have him help & to find things in it that are fun for him.

Our nightly ritual -- reading books, then listening to a tape with the lights off while I rock him & we talk -- is also a good bonding time.

When I was little, my parents made special time for my sister on me. On one Sunday, one of us would go with Mom, and the other with Dad & we'd do stuff: go out for lunch, go to a park, shop -- whatever -- and the next week, we'd switch. It was great one-on-one time, and it saved my parents from listening to my sister & me argue!

[nancynic]

Hi Jody,

Thanks for your post ... sounds like you and your fs are having lots of quality time together which will make for lots of love now and lots of warm memories and family traditions.

Nancy