Why We Need To Spend Quality Time With Our Children

     As the days go by so fast and our children grow up even faster, it can leave an aching void in the heart of every mother who keeps wondering, have I spent time with my child today? Was the time spent impactful? Have I been able to influence my child's life positively? Have I fulfilled my responsibility as a mom or did I hand it over to the teachers and caregivers? These are tough questions to answer whether you are a single mom juggling a full-time job with no support whatsoever, a married woman working full time or a stay-at-home mom. Having a spouse does not mean the job gets any easier. The demands of life and responsibilities are real and so are our children's needs and we have to balance them so that we don't end up failing in our responsibility. One motivation we should have as parents is that we will not always have our kids with us. Every passing day brings us closer to the day that they will leave our homes and start their own lives. Will it leave you with regrets or will you be confident that you did your best? Then you will have your house and your time all to yourself. Can you picture your home 20 years from today? That should make the time you have now even more precious because you know that things will change someday.

What is quality time?

     Spending quality time with Your child is not necessarily about the quantity but the quality of time spent. Are you watching the clock so you can get out the door or are you distracted? It is simply being present and taking an active interest in what your child is interested in depending on their age. It is an intentional activity and it does not have to go on for hours on end, your child will understand when you have to go take care of other things because you give the desired attention. To make the time spent effective, you have to know what your child is interested in, which will inform your activities for the time planned. Remember, it is about how you spend the time.

Ways to spend quality time with your child

     A large part of spending quality time with your child depends on the age of the child and their interests. Some activities may involve leaving the house, especially for much older children.

1. You need to take care of yourself first so you don't get distracted by Your tiredness or the mountain of chores waiting for you. Self-care will leave you relaxed and in the 'now' so you can focus on your child and enjoy the wonder of those precious moments.
2. Create a special ritual you do with your child every day, it could be a special way of saying good morning, goodbye or an activity you carry out every day. The goal is to connect with your child daily and you can be sure your child is looking forward to it and it will be something that they will always remember even as adults.
3. Take pictures every day, you will be surprised how fast they grow. I saw a post once on Facebook about creating an email for your child and giving them access when they have come of age. You may not be able to print every picture so you can store the rest in an email address for them. Having those memories are important too.
4. Affirm your child every day by telling them how much you love them and how grateful you are for having them in your life. Praise them for the chores they do and speak positively to them.
5. Pray together as a family. It is often said that a family that prays together stays together. Let your child learn how to spend time in the presence of God from you. You will not be able to teach everything, you can mirror the rest with your actions and children learn faster by copying your actions.
6. Prepare meals with your child and eat together. The time you spend cooking can be used to catch up on the day's events, to teach, advise or encourage. Try to take advantage of every given opportunity to mould your child. The food is not as important as the conversation you are having and the memories you are making.
7. Play with them and be silly together. You can play wholesome games and let them teach you what they know. It shows your humanity and that you are not always 'all knowing.' You could dance, sing and play hide-and-seek together.

Why spending quality moments with our children is significant 

1. When you find a way to make the most of every moment with your child, you are not only being a good parent. You are also teaching them to be good parents someday. 
2. When you show them how important it is to spend time with them, you would have impacted many generations to come.
3. Time spent with your child leaves a positive impact on their academic achievement, behaviour and emotional well-being.
4. It strengthens the family bond.
5. It creates a loving and enabling environment for proper development. 

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