Time with Your Children

How much time do you spend with your children? In a national survey the numbers may surprise you, the survey indicates that parents will spend about two (2) hours a day with their child engaged in some level of conversation. Compare that to the four (4) hours they spend communicating with their friends. We know that these numbers change based on a number of factors. One is age; as a child gets older, they will spend even more time with their friends.

We hear that children are influenced by their friends. If we look at the the number of hours children spend with their parent, we can see why that might be so. What this means for us is that if we want to have influence over our children, we need to spend time with them.

According to the Office of National Drug Control Strategy, when strong ties are formed between children and their families, and between families and their children’s schools, children are least likely to develop drug problems.

to begin spending more time with your children, first determine for yourself what amount of time you want to spend with your child. This is an important part of the equation. Spending your time with your child out of a sense of drudgery will not yield a productive interchange.

Here are some ways you can spend more time with you children. Individual Time is very important to children. You could engage in activities like reading together, cooking, taking a walk, playing a board game, going to lunch, going to the playground or the park, as example.

Family Time is also important to a child’s development. Group activities include all of the same things for individual time. In addition you could play a game that involves more than two (2) players, eating a meal together or doing chores together.

The third kind of time is Community Time. This could include going to church as a family, working at a homeless shelter, collecting toys for a toy drive, attending community plays or concerts, attending siblings sporting events, to name a few.

So, pick a few activities and participate with your child. You and your child will definitely benefit from your time together.

Blessings
Carol

2007 Copyright by Carol A. Deel, MS, LCPC, LCMFT, All Rights Reserved. No part of this may be reproduced by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.