Parents today are busier than ever, and it can be difficult to juggle all of your responsibilities. However, it is important to remember that your child is your top priority and that you need to make enough time for them.
Children can tell when you are not giving them enough attention, and this may result in “acting out” and other negative behaviors. Use a few simple tricks to make more time for your kids.
1. Get your kids involved
While it is true that you might be able to load the dishwasher faster than your 4-year-old can, letting them help can turn chores into a great bonding experience where you are teaching valuable skills. Talk about what you’re doing or even about his day while performing household tasks together. You will teach your child to be independent while also spending quality time together.
2. Do not overschedule
Set a limit on the number of after-school activities in which your child will participate. While sports and clubs are a good way to teach children what they can do, spending time with their family will give them a greater sense of self. Make sure that you are not over-booking your own schedule, as well, so that you have ample time to spend with your kids.
3. Wake up earlier
Try waking up 15 minutes earlier each morning to get household chores done. Load the dishwasher, vacuum, or fold laundry so that you do not have to do these chores later on in the day. This will give you extra free time later that you can use to talk to or play a game with your kids.
4. Get organized
Do you find yourself spending precious minutes in the morning looking for your keys, preparing school lunches, and packing up book bags? Get yourself organized to free up some time and make your life easier.
Create a docking station by your front door in which you will leave all of your important items, like keys, shoes, and your cell phone, and make sure that lunches and bags are packed before you go to bed at night.
5. Outsource
If you are finding it difficult to spend time with your children with all of the housework you need to keep up on, consider hiring a cleaning service. While you will have to pay for outsourcing these chores, the increase in time you’ll have to spend with your kids should make the expense worth it.
6. Double up during meal prep
When you are making dinner in the evening, consider doubling the recipe so that you are making twice as much. Then, freeze the extra meal so that you can enjoy it next week. This should not take up much extra time, and it will give you a free night later in the month when you will not need to cook dinner and can spend more time with your kids.
7. Turn off the TV
TV time with your kids isn’t quality time, so turn off the TV and play a board game instead. Limit the amount of TV time that your kids get each week, and work on a craft together, take a walk, or play at your local park.
8. Make family dinners a nightly tradition
Having regular, distraction-free meals together can be a great bonding session for your family. These meals give you an uninterrupted time to discuss what your child did during the day. After the meal, you can all clear the table together so that you promote good work habits in your child.
9. Run errands over your lunch hour
If you have to go grocery shopping and pick up the dry-cleaning before you go home for the day, you may not get to see your child until late at night. Instead, use your lunch hour to run your daily errands so that you do not get home any later than usual.
10. Schedule break time
Even if you have a lot to do at home, whether you are way behind on your household chores or need to work from home, you can still make time for your kids.
Schedule 15 minute breaks in which you will put your work down and spend time with your little ones. These breaks will show your child that they are your top priority.
Your child will grow up quickly, so it is important to make sure that you are taking every opportunity to spend time with them . By being proactive in your quest to spend quality time with your kids, you can make memories that will last a lifetime.