Part of being a parent is caring for your child’s present – since it will influence their future. While concerns regarding school, food habits and physical activity are important, fostering good habits such as spending time with family also plays an important role in your kid’s future.
There has been research around the role that parents play when it comes to creating a wholesome family environment. You have an important part as a role model, and you can also benefit from cultivating strong ties with your Little One.
Dive in and have a look on how and why you should take up your part on the matter.
Importance Of Spending Time With Family
Family time is more than simply hanging out – meaning being in the same place or sharing something. In order to count and carry the (very much anticipated) positive outcomes of quality time, there has to be intention.
This means that spending time requires commitment and involvement. It’s about being present, interacting and participating with what’s going on.
Actively join conversations; asking questions about the topic; acknowledging someone’s feelings and supporting them.
These small actions show that there is engagement and legitimate interest in what’s going on. If children feel welcome in this environment, they learn to trust that what they have to say is important – as well as listening to what others have to share too.
How Is Family Quality Time Beneficial For Children?
Now we know the basics of how: creating valuable family time requires effort and commitment. Parents have to be fully invested in it to make it count.
But maybe we should look into the why: what actually comes from spending time with the family? Why should it be this initiative in the first place?
Build Strong Emotional Bonds
As stated, children learn about how to relate with people they care about. They also learn to identify people that care about them.
This comes from feeling that they are part of something. That there are people listening and interacting with them – regardless of being on a dining table, a sports match, or simply reading something together.
How To Grow It
Make sure you’re presenting the child to a healthy environment, with people that are happy to interact with each other.
Show what respectful relationships are about: hopefully, people are laughing, making fun of each other with no offenses, and being affectionate with one another.
Foster Positive Impact on Mental Health
Children that are not submitted to stressful environments develop a healthy relationship with themselves and the people around them.
They are more likely to not suffer from trust issues, low self-esteem, and other internal conflicts that might hinder their social skills and, possibly, affect their academic and professional future.
How To Grow It
While the family spends time together, show encouragement between one another. Introduce the child to people interacting with respect and sheltering each other. If someone is nervous about something at work or school, talk about it and try to support them as best as you can, encouraging them to do their best and showing you trust in what they have to offer.
Improve Communication Skills
Being able to communicate is essential for anyone, at any age. Our first connection efforts begin even when we’re newborns, crying to indicate we’re hungry or tired – from there, communications are gradually more and more complex.
Spending time with family can improve communication since people learn to interact with each other. Even if there’s a misunderstanding, that’s also an opportunity to show how to react when something’s off.
How To Grow It
Ask questions; include the child in the conversation and ask them what are their thoughts on that; make sure that people participating in that family moment are happy, demonstrating positive feelings. The child will likely learn how people communicate and will be able to replicate that with no stress.
Create Shared Values and Traditions
Family traditions are a way to reconnect with core values and beliefs that unite a community together. As children grow and develop their own social groups, having a strong foundation in terms of what’s right, wrong, and their own limits, might be important for them in the future.
How To Grow It
Be consistent and clear in terms of what these values or traditions stand for. If it’s related to religion, ancestry, or simply to something that is important for that family, try to involve the child in it as much as possible. This might mean helping prepare something to eat, decorate the house, or simply discuss the topic on an ongoing basis.
Ideas for Family Time
Spending quality time with family is essential for building strong bonds and creating lasting memories.
However, coming up with fresh, engaging ideas can sometimes be challenging. Here are some practical and fun suggestions for making the most of family time.
Outdoor Adventures
Exploring the outdoors is a fantastic way for families to connect while enjoying nature.
Activities like hiking, biking, or visiting a local park for a family picnic allow everyone to bond while staying active.
For families near water or looking for a family-friendly travel venue, consider a day at the beach, fishing, or kayaking.
Game Nights
Game nights bring laughter and a bit of friendly competition into the home.
Choose board games or card games that are suitable for all ages, ensuring everyone can participate.
For a twist, create a trivia night or charades based on family stories and inside jokes, making the experience even more personal! This is also a fun strategy for passing on family traditions and anecdotes.
Cooking Together
The kitchen is an excellent place for families to come together. Try cooking a meal or baking a dessert as a team. Assign tasks to each family member, from chopping vegetables to setting the table.
To make it even more exciting, explore international recipes and learn about different cultures through food.
Arts and Crafts
Unleash your family’s creativity with arts and crafts projects. Whether it’s painting, making holiday decorations, or building something with recycled materials, crafting is a fun and productive way to spend time together.
These projects also provide tangible keepsakes to remind everyone of their time building something alongside.
Take a look at AEA’s past articles with arts & crafts inspiration:
Movie or Book Nights
Choose a family-friendly movie or book series to enjoy together. After watching or reading, spark a discussion to share opinions, favorite parts, or lessons learned.
This helps encourage communication and deeper connections.
Spending Time With Family Is Important For Children And Adults
Children with a healthy reference of relationships are more likely to succeed in their future endeavors.
Investing in a healthy relationship with family members is helpful while children are at their young age, but also looking towards their future. After all, a healthy and thriving childhood is key for growing the leaders of tomorrow.
While children benefit from building strong connections, learning to identify safe environments and prioritize their wellbeing, all these consequences will help growing healthy adults.
Overcoming Challenges to Family Time
In today’s fast-paced world, finding time for family can be difficult due to busy schedules, digital distractions, and other commitments.
However, with some planning and intentionality, these challenges can be addressed to prioritize family connections.
Managing Busy Schedules
Families often juggle work, school, extracurricular activities, and social obligations, leaving little time for bonding.
To counter this, establish a family calendar to coordinate schedules and set aside specific times for family activities.
Even small windows, such as having dinner together or a quick weekend outing, can make a significant difference!
Limiting Digital Distractions
Smartphones, tablets, and TVs can often overshadow meaningful interactions. Designate certain times or areas of the home as “tech-free zones”.
For example, implement a rule where devices are turned off during meals or family game nights. Encouraging everyone to be fully present fosters deeper connections.
Take advantage of this “disconnection mode” to read with the family and sparkle your Little One’s imagination.
Finding Common Interests
When family members have different interests, it can be challenging to find activities everyone enjoys.
To overcome that, gather all family members and create a list of potential activities with their hobbies and preferences. Then, let each member take turns choosing one!
This ensures inclusivity and helps everyone feel valued, while still creating meaningful time with the family.
Prioritize Time Together And Make It Nonnegotiable
If you want children to connect with the family and enjoy spending time together, the first step has to come from the parents. Be the role model!
Pay attention when your child speaks; encourage them to ask questions; be open towards their feelings and struggles so that they feel safe to share it; build limits through conversations and patience, not around behaviors that indicate intolerance – like yelling or making fun of a difficult situation the child is going through.
Ultimately, spending time with family is all about showing the child they’re valuable, that they have a safe place to come home to, and learn how to surround themselves with people that want their best.
At Amazing Explorers Academy, we strongly believe in creating healthy environments for the children, so it acts as a complement to their home education. If you’re interested in knowing how to potentialize your child’s future, learn how to evaluate a high-quality preschool!
