Being there for your kids - How DoYou Make or Find Quality Family Time with Your Kids?

Episode Date: August 5, 2023

In today's busy, non-stop, electronic world, how much time do you think you actually have with your kids and as a family? Thinking about and applying the categories of quality family time will promote family gathering and interacting, despite all the obstacles that could get in the way. Here are some thoughts.

Hi, I'm Dr. John Robinson, and I have some more thoughts for you today. Let's talk about quality family time. Now, here's the concept we can sink our teeth into. Quality family time is, or should be, a goal of your family interaction. These are memory makers, Kodak moments, a sigh for parents who feel like they're getting affirmation, who feel like they're finally getting something right. But what makes quality family time? There are three categories of quality family time.

functioning families, all three categories exist. There are glimpses, moments, and planned time together. Angie labored over the kitchen sink, making the fixings for a salad for dinner. She glanced into the found room and saw five-year-old Allison, reading to her three-year-old brother. She would read the page and then show him pictures, pointing out how the words captured the pictures. Angie sighed and grinned as she continued making supper. She had just witnessed a glint. of quality family time. Hank was playing catch with his son, Henry, in the backyard after coming home from Henry's Little League baseball game. Mandy was on the swing as their mom walked out to be with them. Push me, Mommy. Mandy pleaded. All right, all right, I'm coming. Don't get all in a tizzy.

Mandy giggled and asked Mommy, what's a tizzy? As her mom started pushing her. Across the yard, Hank pretended that Henry was throwing the ball too fast and it was hurting his hand. Henry sighed, smiled, and then commented, Yeah, right. Here, everybody's together. They're having fun. It just happened. A moment of quality family time.

After their usual Sunday afternoon scheduled family planning meeting, the Wilson's finalized their upcoming family vacation. Everyone was heard and each got something they had lobbied for that was within their time and financial constraints. On Saturday morning, they had all pitched in with the weekly house cleaning, working together dividing up responsibilities according to age and ability they got the whole house straightened in only two hours dad was actually right with his tired old more hands less work trope these two snapshots are examples of the category of quality family time that is planned time together

keep in mind several obstacles to quality family time while each of your family members needs their private space holding up in their bedroom for long periods of time is an obstacle As the parent, you might negotiate a block of time where they can be alone. Quality family time is where your children learn social interaction skills, emotional intimacy, sharing, and bonding, all of which will serve them well as adults. Also, in our pervasive electronics, computers, cyberspace, kids will gravitate to these activities, if allowed. Established family rules.

For example, no more than two hours of electronic gaming and TV time per day. and that is only after chores and homework are completed. No electronics, such as iPads and phones, during family meals. Oh, oh, and eat dinner around the family table. My kids still tease me about promoting pleasant conversation during meals. Research shows that back in the day, families gathered for 15 meals per week out of a possible 21 meals. Nowadays, family gather on average for only three meals per week. Being too busy is not an excuse.

make the time. Eating together is a great time to nurture quality family time. Achieving the goal of creating quality family time together will serve your family well. Blessings, Dr. John. If these letters stir questions of your own, contact me through my website at www.org.orghumor.com or email me at John Robinson 0.0.Belsouth.net. I'm Dr. Jonathan C. Robinson, licensed clinical psychologist, and Christian author of Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting. And this has been Teachable Moments. Teachable Moments, Building Blocks of Christian Parenting, is available online at AmazonBooks.com and in local and national bookstores.

More on Dr. Robinson at TMC-P-I-N-C.com.