7 Ways To Spend Quality Time With Your Kids As A Busy Parent

A huge part of being a parent is working extra hard to ensure your children don’t lack anything. The thing is that work can take much of the precious time you could have spent with them. While you must work to earn, it’s vital to avoid neglecting the other part of being a parent, which is being there for your kids in their best and worst times. Your mere presence alone means so much for their momentary and long-term happiness.

Look, there’s no denying that parents’ lifestyles are much more fast-paced than ever before. But it’s truly up to us if we want to pump the brakes and give time for what matters. 

Fortunately, that’s not as hard as it sounds. Here are some practical ways busy parents can have quality time with their kids.

1. Spend At Least Ten Minutes Together In The Morning

The first tip is something you should make routine: spend at least ten minutes together in the morning. You don’t have to prepare something special for this; just do what you usually do together while being wholeheartedly present with them. That means no long phone calls and newsfeeds. 

You can use this time to have breakfast together or put together their lunch. Talk about what you expect to do for the rest of the day, then create after-school plans. Small acts like these help you maintain a positive presence in your child’s life.

2. Play Games Together

This is the most intuitive way to go about quality time. Kids love it when you get down with them and let loose just as much as they do.

There’s no limit to fun indoor games for kids together. Something as simple as having bubble-blowing contests will allow you to stay connected with your kid. At the same time, you get to indulge your ‘inner child.’ A win-win situation in everyone’s book. 

The key is to let them set the pace. Put their preferences above all else, whether they want to play catch, do jigsaw puzzles, or roleplay.

3. Plan Family Outings

Even the tightest schedules are broken up with leaves, holidays, and off-duty days. Take advantage of these breaks to have some quality time with your kids. 

Go to the park, zoo, or town fair. Exchange treats and take pictures and videos you can look back on. It doesn’t take much time to compensate for lost days; even a few minutes can make a huge difference.

4. Help Them Learn Essential Skills

This deserves its own point. Teaching your kids vital skills is a big part of their growth. These include washing and drying clothes, doing the dishes, and making minor repairs. 

Cooking is a particularly helpful skill they will need when they grow up. It’s a good thing you don’t need a whole day to teach them this. Instead, do it incrementally. 

Start by inviting them to help you chop fruits and vegetables, heat pans, or make mixes. This will create an opportunity to catch up, learn new things, and make up for the days you’ve not been around while also equipping them with something valuable. Take the same approach for every other household skill.

5. Prioritize Daily Check-Ins

You, above everyone else, should know what’s going on with your kid’s daily life. Too many parents fail to put in the work in showing interest and concern for how they’re doing.

Whether you spend several minutes or do a quick catch-up, always ask them questions along the lines of:

• How was your day?
• What was interesting about it?
• What did you eat for lunch, and who did you sit with?
• Which games did you try with your friends?

This is often an easy way to know if there’s something wrong. Maybe they’re having trouble with math or run-ins with bullies. Take this as an opportunity to lend a helping hand. For example, you can bring up the harassment to the teachers so they can take appropriate action.

6. Eat Together

Eating is a primal thing. All communities at all levels see sharing food as a way to show solidarity and affection. If there’s any time to make the time worthwhile with your kids, it’s during meals. 

Whenever you can, always eat together. Dinner is usually the best time to do so since everyone’s at home by then. Use it to catch up with each other and just enjoy the feeling of security and peace you have at the end of the day.

7. Read Them Bedtime Stories

Reading bedtime stories is an excellent way to top off any child’s day. It doesn’t really matter if you’re going through the same book for years now. Sometimes, they just want to hear you and have you nearby. Wait until they’ve fallen asleep before you bid them good night and wait for another day.

Get To It

If you want to be a good parent, you must be willing to set your boundaries at work and fulfill your obligations to your kids. Besides, you deserve a break just as much as they do when it comes to being with the people they care about. Set your calendar, learn when to say no, and focus on what matters.