Do you struggle with trying to find family time? If so, you’re not alone. Busy schedules make time a rare commodity for most people. When kids go back to school and homework and other school activities are thrown into the mix, it becomes even harder to balance it all. It may be a challenge, but finding time for family fun is not impossible. Here a few creative tips for squeezing in those quality moments with your kids and getting them excited about it, too.
- Switch things up and let older kids take the lead on planning family time. How does this help? Parents can get bogged down with all the boring adult stuff like work, household chores, and paying bills. By the time we’re finished with all those jobs, there often isn’t much energy left to plan yet another event. Family time shouldn’t be another chore on the do-to list. By allowing the kids to play an active role in planning what to do as a family, two important things are accomplished. The kids can work out a lot of the details ahead of time, which saves time that can than be used to enjoy your family time. The other benefit? If your children help come up with the ideas, they will be far more excited about spending time together as a family.
- Plan a date night with your child or children. When adults want to spend extra time with another adult, we plan a date. Why not do the same with your kids once in a while? Any relationship that is important to you requires some effort to build and nurture it. Read Date Night… with Your Kids on Creative Kids Ideas for some creative alternatives for celebrating family night with your children.
- Be selective about how many after-school programs your child participates in and how often he or she attends. Extra-curricular activities can be helpful for teaching kids social skills and developing friendships, when they are done in moderation. Truthfully, it’s far too easy for parents to find themselves spending a lot of time playing chauffeur and carting kids from one activity to another. When kids go back to school and join multiple groups, they get overloaded, parents get overbooked, and there’s little time left to spend together as a family. Instead, encourage your child to limit sports or activities to one or two.
- Remember that family time doesn’t always have to be a planned event. Usually when we think of family time, we think of a specific event or activity that the parents and kids do as a group. The truth is, family time is any time spent together doing anything. Take a cue from kids. They don’t rely on elaborate plans to have fun. They also don’t spend days deciding how to play. They just do it. So, how do you apply this same way of thinking to your time with your family? It’s simple, really. Seize the little moments when they appear. Have you ever walked into the room while your six-year-old was playing and just sat down. grabbed a Barbie doll and joined her? Have you ever caught your teenager shooting hoops in the front yard and challenged him to an impromptu game of horse? Those are both perfect examples of well-spent and unplanned family time.
Family time is an important way to bond and build strong relationships with your children. Don’t let kids going back to school take that away from you. Instead, get creative and make the most of the time you have together!
About Jo Brielyn