In today’s day and age, it can be difficult to enjoy some family time. From a full-time job and running the kids to different activities to an endless use of technology and excessive screen time, it can be hard to find time to be present with your children and spend time together as a family. Sometimes it is easier to just let your kiddos watch three hours of television while you cook dinner and catch up on emails, but this shouldn’t be the way your family operates.
Family time is extremely important, not only for your family dynamic but also for your children. Spending quality time together can provide your kiddos with a variety of benefits and is very important for your little ones.
At Yellow Brick Road Early Childhood Development Center in Minnesota, we understand the importance of family. We work hard to develop a strong community at our child care centers, making this your child’s second home. But a strong community at home is even more important for so many reasons. Make an effort to spend more quality time with your family and learn the benefits below!
Builds Self-Confidence
Family time can help build your child’s self-confidence by giving them a sense of self-worth. When you, the parent, spend time with your children and do different activities with them, you can help them feel more valued, which gives them a more positive view of themselves. Family time helps your child feel as though you want to be around them and enjoy some quality interactions with them. This will help boost their self-confidence, which can help them in both their social and academic lives.
Improves Family Bond
A strong family bond can be extremely beneficial for everyone involved. When you spend more time together, you will be able to improve and strengthen the bond you have with your kids and they will develop better bonds with their siblings. Studies have found that families who spend time together participating in different activities have a stronger emotional bond. They are also better able to adapt to situations as a family. When you develop strong family bonds, your family will get along better, communicate better, and enjoy time spent together. Nowadays, it is too common to feel as though your children are strangers, especially as they grow older. Keep your family bond strong by regularly spending time together as a family.
Develops Positive Behavior
Kids who spend more time with their family are more likely to develop positive behaviors, especially as they get older. From eating healthier to avoiding risky behaviors, something as simple as family time can offer many behavioral benefits. No matter how old your child is, you can help them stay out of trouble and make better choices by making family time a priority in their lives.
Improves Communication
Communication is important when it comes to family. Spending quality time with your kiddos creates an environment for open communication. This will allow your children to feel comfortable opening up to you and talking about anything. Being able to communicate with your family can be extremely beneficial and allows all of you to better support each other. Starting to develop good communication can be as simple as asking your child how their day went.
Improves Academic Performance
While it may not seem like quality family time, helping your kiddo with their homework can be very beneficial for them, especially in their younger years. Reading together and working on school work can show your kiddo the importance of academics and allow you to spend more time with each other. When your child feels comfortable coming to you with questions about their school work, they will be more likely to do better in school.
Improves Kid’s Happiness
Spending time as a family is beneficial to everyone. But your kid’s happiness and wellbeing can have a positive effect when you all spend quality time together. The key word here is quality. You will want to make sure that the time you spend together is meaningful and special. When you plan family time, make sure you are all giving each other your full attention. Put cell phones and other distractions away, and really give each other your time. This will help make each member of your family feel valued and improve the happiness throughout your family.
Creates Memories
Memories are such a powerful thing that can connect us all. When you create special memories with your kiddos, their sense of belonging will be stronger. This is extremely beneficial and allows kids to form connections with their siblings and with you. Making memories gives your child a loving and happy environment to grow up in and can help them do the same for children of their own.
Improves Mental Health
Family time has a positive effect on your child’s mental health as well. Children who feel connected and engaged with their families are more likely to be social, perform better in school, and have an overall better mental health. As we already mentioned, this quality time can help improve happiness, self-confidence, and encourage positive behaviors.
Family Time Ideas
Now that you know some of the benefits that family time can provide your children, it is time to start planning the activities you can incorporate into your weekly routine in order to spend more time with your family. You don’t have to do anything drastic in order to spend time with your kiddos; it can be as simple as eating dinner together every night.
- Some ideas for family time include:
- Eating dinner together
- Going for walks together
- Planning game nights
- Planning movie nights
- Going for bike rides
- Playing yard games together
- Going to the park
- Baking together
- Going to a movie
- Going to the zoo
- Going to the museum
- Going to the pool
- Attending family gatherings
- Reading together
- Eating breakfast together
These are only a few of the many ways to spend some quality time with your children. Try to come up with some of your own ways to spend time with your family and be sure to make time for it today!
We hope you have learned the importance of family time and are ready to make an effort to spend more time together. At Yellow Brick Road, we understand the importance of family and the feeling of belonging. Learn more about our child care center and contact us with any questions you may have.