The Importance of Spending Quality Time with Your Child
Spending quality time with your child is essential to their development, and I want to share a unique type of quality time with your child called Special Time. We all lead busy lives, I get it, but I am here to encourage you to take that little extra time to spend one-on-one time with your little one. It can make a world of difference in their growth and happiness and help your family develop a closer emotional connection.
You may be wondering, "What exactly is Special Time?" Well, it's a defined period of time you set aside to be with your child, free from any distractions or interruptions. It's a time when you enter their world for 15 or 20 minutes and let them take the lead in deciding which activities they’d like to do with you. They might choose to play their favorite game, draw pictures, play dress up, or ambush you with rolled up socks. Your job is to engage fully and take delight in your child.
The importance of spending quality time with your child
At this point, you could be thinking, "I spend time with my child every day, isn't that enough?" Well, while any time with your child is valuable, Special Time takes it up a notch or two, because with Special Time you dedicate your full attention to your child. You don’t put in a quick load of laundry, make a cup of tea, or check your phone during Special Time. You also celebrate them, pour in your love, and let them lead the play.
Imagine you and your child sitting together on a cozy blanket, drawing colorful pictures with bright markers. Or your child laughing with delight as they pummel you in a pillow fight. As you watch their face light up with excitement, you can take pleasure in knowing that you’re strengthening your emotional connection with them, all while simply playing.
When you designate specific moments solely for your child, it communicates a powerful message – "You are important to me, and I cherish our relationship."
You might be surprised at how much your child opens up to you during Special Time. I often recommend that parents do Special Time after school. Your kids may casually mention something that happened at school that they wouldn’t have shared otherwise. The little details they share about their day gives you valuable insight into what’s going on in their world when they’re not with you.
Special Time also gives parents the opportunity to play again! When we really get into playing with our children, we show them that we’re not just their caregiver, but we can also be fun. In our hectic lives, it's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of daily responsibilities, but Special Time gives us a chance to let loose and be silly while allowing us to be fully present with our kids.
How to plan Special Time
Now, you might be thinking, "Special Time sounds great, but what if I have more than one child? How do I manage Special Time for each of them?" Good question! In some families, each parent does Special Time with one child while the other parent does Special Time with the other child. Other parents do Special Time with one child while the other(s) child is at school. If it seems like individual Special Time just can’t work for you, there's also magic in family time. Finding activities that the whole family can do together can be rewarding. A family game night, cooking together, or a weekend outing all strengthen connections and create family memories too.
Special Time doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive. It's only about being present, attentive, and fully engaged with your child. From building a fort with blankets to baking cookies in the kitchen – it's the joy in the little things that matter most.
So, I encourage you to try adding this type of quality time with your child because it’s so important for your whole family. Remember, it's not about being a perfect parent. It’s about being present and showing your child how much they mean to you.
If you’re interested in learning more about ways to strengthen the relationships with your children, check out my parent child relationship therapy services.
