One-on-One Time With Our Children – Episode 5

Join Saren and April Perry for a 20-minute podcast 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.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Posts offering further ideas from other great authors:

Special Time

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)

About Saren Eyre Loosli

Saren adores her five energetic, adventurous kids (ages 13-18) but doesn't totally adore the mess and busyness and bickering that that comes with them! She grew up all over the world, got her Bachelor's degree at Wellesley College and did her Masters in Education at Harvard University (these days, the diplomas on her wall mostly serve as visual aids when she's trying to convince her all-too-smart teenagers that she DOES know a thing or two!). She went on to design and implement enrichment programs for kids and training programs for teachers. But it was only after she finally found her wonderful husband, Jared, and had five children in five years, that her education and work experience began in earnest!

When she's not trying to answer five - or six - different needs and questions at once, she works on this website (she's Founder and Director of Power of Families).

She currently lives in Ogden, Utah and loves reading, hiking, and biking with her family (or by herself when possible!). She often struggles with balance but finds joy in being involved in many things that are meaningful to her.