These days it is getting more and more difficult to spend time with our children due to all of the demands on our time compared to many years ago. In many cases today both parents in a family have to work in order to make ends meet which means less time to spend with children. Single parent families are also more common these days and in many cases this means two jobs for that one parent in order to get by and children must often suffer the consequences. It is not through fault of the parents that personal demands have increased so greatly but it is up to us to find a way to make time for our children any way that we can, even if just for a few minutes at a time. Whether it is in between appointments, at the end of the day, or in the morning getting ready for work and school it is important to find some amount of time no matter how small or large to see how your children are feeling and what they are up to. Here are a few ways you can do that and still battle your other demands as well.
Have your children help you prepare dinner. Even if there is not much to do or it isn't going to take very long the interaction will still do them good. Not only will it give you the opportunity to talk with your children but it will also give you the opportunity to offer much needed praise for a job well done. Even smaller children can pitch in and help by folding napkins or helping to set the table. Older children can participate in the more intricate preparations of dinner and in the end everyone will feel like they accomplished something together.
Another way to spend a little extra time with your children is to get up an hour earlier than you have to in the morning if it is possible. Get up and have coffee and cocoa and take the time to talk about what you have planned for the day. It may be difficult in the beginning to get up earlier but eventually you will all grow used to it and it will be second nature. Just those few moments in the morning to show your interested can make a great deal of difference in how your children cope with your busy schedule.
Finally, you can always try to set aside a day or even a half a day that is meant only for you and your children. Even if you don't have a lot of money to spend on going somewhere special you can find something to do together for the day. Walk through a nature center, visit a nearby park, or take a trip to the beach for the day. Whatever you do be sure to make it about spending time together as a family because that is what is most important and that is all your children are really concerned with.
