Join Saren and April Perry, Director of Power of Moms, for a 20-minute conversation where they share simple tried-and-true ideas for making one-on-one time with each child into a regular and meaningful part of the family routine.
Here’s a sneak preview of some of the tips they share:
- Let each child take a turn staying up 15 minutes late and during this time, the child gets mom and dad’s attention all to themselves. They could choose to play a favorite game together, read a book together, research something they’re interested in via the Internet together, etc. Or if bedtime doesn’t work, you can set up 15-minute rotations during the day when kids get special individual time with a parent.
- Pick kids up from school during lunch and take them out on a special date. Tell them what you’ve noticed about them lately (all the positive things!) and let them talk about whatever they want.
- Take each child out on a special “date” every month if you can. Give them a budget ($5 works well) and let them choose what the activity will be (brainstorm a list of ideas together as a family if you want so they have a “jumping off” point for thinking about what they’d love to do with you). Examples include going for a walk or bike ride, browsing at a book store or library, going on a “photography walk” to take photos of interesting things, going out for ice cream or a smoothie, etc.
- Think about how you can make housework into great one-on-one time and teaching time as you work with a child how to make a meal, clean a floor, make a bed, fold laundry, etc. (this works especially well if you help them with a job they’ve been assigned – they’re extra happy for your company when you’re helping them do something they know is their responsibility!)
- Take advantage of opportunities for spontaneous “dates” by taking a child who seems to be needing a little extra attention with you on a necessary errand and making a point of really talking in the car and involving the child in helping you find things and make decisions at the store.
Further Helps:
Posts offering further ideas from other great authors:
One-on-One Time With Our Kids: Why We Must and How We Can
What’s the Point of Housework? (thoughts on how to make housework into a relationship-building activity)
* This episode is part of our series of ten “Family Life Conversations” that is included in our Free Member Package. Click here and scroll down to sign up for the package and access the full set of Family Life Conversations.
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