With school back in session and the holidays quickly approaching, it can be very difficult to find that “one on one” time with your children. Research studies have shown that it is not the amount of time spent with your children, but the quality of time that matters. Spending time with your children does not always have to include going out for activities. Quality time can easily be enjoyed at home. If you commit to at least 10-15 minutes per day with your child you can create sweet memories and experience many other benefits. These benefits could include enhancing your child’s social/emotional well being, developing fine motor or gross motor skills and best of all building a special bond between you and your child.
This list of easy steps can help you start today!
- Set aside 10-15 minutes everyday regardless of your child’s behaviors that day. Build this time into your calendar.
- Never threaten to take the time away as punishment.
- Be consistent. Stick to the 10-15 scheduled time.
- Do activities that require interaction with your child, not passive activities such as TV or computer.
- Two-three minutes before the activity is to end, give a signal (such as a timer going off) to let them know their time is almost up and to help with transitions.
Using this time will not only help create a special bond between you and your child, it will also let them know that you are
available. Your presence is important and will help give them a sense of security that they need at a young age.
Here are 10 fun activities that you can do at home:- Play with blocks or Legos. This is great for fine motor skills. Build something simple and let them copy your design.
- Make homemade play dough and keep it in the fridge to use for sensory input.
- Go to the backyard and search for fall leaves. Take the leaves, put them under construction paper and color over the leaf. The impression of the leaf will be seen on the paper. This is a great fall project and perfect to display on the fridge!
- Color together. Keep any broken crayon pieces. Grasping the small pieces is another way for your child to develop fine motor skills.
- Chalk on the driveway or patio. Start with simple strokes – vertical, horizontal and circular.
- Shaving cream makes bath time fun!
- Read a book together.
- Play with a ball. To make it more challenging change the size of the ball. Have them throw at a target like a colored picture or a picture of an action hero you print from the computer.
Now it’s time to create some special memories. Have fun! I promise you won’t regret it, and neither will your child!