How to Spend Quality Time with Your Child – A Handy Guide

For many people, becoming a parent is one of the most beautiful parts of their lives. That’s why you should enjoy every aspect of parenthood, because, believe it or not, kids grow up so fast! Even though that sounds cliché, you might regret not spending more quality time with them when they were young. What does that mean?

Try to use every opportunity possible to spend time with your child. Through various games and activities, you can teach them so many useful things and enjoy your time together. So, here are some interesting tips you can use for spending quality time with your youngsters.

1. Play their games

Have you noticed how your children have their own imaginary games they play? Whether they use toys or just pure imagination, playing develops their creativity and mind. But did you know that playing can have many other purposes in your kid’s life except for fun?

You probably remember being called to play with your child after a long day at work. Instead of kicking your feet up and watching telly, indulge in the world of imagination. That’s how you’ll gain a better insight into what’s going on in your child’s life. They tend to express their problems through games, so, think twice before saying no to being called to play with your kid!

2. Explore nature together

Many children have adventuristic spirits. They love to explore and find different, for them, mysterious, things. So, think about exploring different areas of nature with your children. Take them to a local park and let them seek for different leaves, flowers, grass and stones. You can even make your own collection of the things they’ve found.

Similarly, you can take them in a forest or for a hike, where they’ll have a chance to see different types of plants and wildlife. Teach them plant and bird names and have a wonderful time soaking up the sun!

3. Get crafty

Who doesn’t love to express their creativity? Many children spend their free time drawing and scribbling whatever comes to their mind. Channel your inner child and join them on a crafty venture. What can you do with your little ones?

One of the simplest things you can teach them to make is cards – birthday cards, Christmas cards, Valentine’s day cards can all be magnificent gifts and time well spent with your youngsters. Besides that, you can help them make their own toys out of paper, wood or any other material. It’s a memory that will stick to them for a lifetime.

4. Create a bedtime ritual

Not every kid is the same. Some are obedient, while others like to express their rebellious side more, especially when it comes to bedtime. However, there is a trick many parents forget about. It’s a bedtime ritual! Even though your little one would like to stay up and play some more, consider turning bedtime into a game.

Who can run to the bathroom faster? Who’ll brush their teeth better? Let them pick jammies themselves. If your little ones are still restless before the bedtime, think about taking them for a short pyjama walk before bed. Don’t forget to read them a bedtime story and tuck them in, so they can safely travel to the land of dreams. You’ll get to spend some quality time with them while taking them to bed on time.

5. Go on a picnic

You should never be too busy for outdoor fun. Pick a sunny weekend in your area and take your family on a lovely picnic. Ask your household to help you with food preparations, snacks and games, and spend a wonderful time outside as a family.

If you’re out of ideas what can you do on a picnic, include some outdoor sports. Frisbee or tennis playing can be beneficial for you and your little ones! Similarly, you can teach your kiddo how to climb a tree or look for directions using moss on stones and trees. Check out this article if you want to know about the different types of tennis court lights

6. Cook together

Many parents and guardians shy away from the idea of cooking with their youngsters. Besides being complicated to teach your little ones all the things you already know, it can be quite dangerous, especially if they are too close to the stove. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t include your kids in the cooking process!

Create your family cooking show and allow your children to take part in the process. They don’t have to work around the cooker. There are plenty of simple recipes your kids can make without endangering their wellbeing. Besides spending quality time with them, you’ll help them build a healthy relationship with food and learn a new useful skill that will come in handy.

7. Play board games

Instead of watching tv in your free time, why don’t you organise a board games night? It’s a fantastic after-dinner activity that can bring the entire family together. One of the best parts about most board games is that they do not have an age limit! So, even younger children may enjoy playing some of them.

What can you do if you don’t have a board game in your home that is suitable for various ages? The answer is simple: create one! Include your kids in the build your own board game process and spend some quality and fun time together coming up with a unique game everyone will love. Remember to teach your kids that they’ll win some and lose some!

8. Go bike riding

Is there anything better than an active family day outside? Spend a day with your children riding bikes around the city or in nature. If you still haven’t thought them how to ride a bike, this is an ideal opportunity to bond with your youngsters and teach them something new! So, what are you waiting for?

Before you start your ride or lessons, you need to make sure that you have all the necessary equipment. Besides the bikes, your children need to be safe while riding. Therefore, you need to provide them with high-quality kids bike helmets, bottles of water, lights and bells before you start your venture. Bike riding is a fantastic way of spending active quality time with your little ones. Enjoy the moment of pride once you teach them this incredible skill.

9. Teach them a new skill

Did you know that many kids are fascinated with knowledge? Those little curious bees that ask hundreds of questions during the day may bother you at first, but try to take a different perspective. By providing the answers to their questions, you’ll watch them learn and grow. You’re responsible for their brain development, so, why don’t you use their curiosity for quality family time?

“Where did dinosaurs come from?”. Instead of brushing them away and saying that you don’t know, teach them how to find the correct information. There are hundreds of books on dinosaurs, plus you can spend time Googling the answers together! Problem-solving skills are necessary for their healthy development, so, try to teach them new skills that will help them later on in life.

Conclusion

The number of family bonding activities is huge. You can take any boring or usual daytime activity and turn it into fun for the entire family. By spending time with your children, you’re teaching them to have an open relationship with you and that you’re a trustworthy person. So, don’t neglect this part of their development.

Sarah Jessica Smith

Sarah Jessica Smith is a young blogger from Sydney. She is in love with life and all the things that can make her daily routine easier. She loves to write about home improvement, lifestyle, and all the small things that make life such a great adventure.