Safety Communication Health Education Future
A place for families to explore what it means to be responsible

Parenting is more than a weekend job, but unfortunately, sometimes it seems that our time together has to wait until the end of the work or school week. Let’s face it, whether you’re a stay-at-home parent or you work away from home, there are so many activities and responsibilities to juggle that we can get too busy to connect with our children on a daily basis. But, we should never forget how important our involvement in our children’s lives is every day.

Life doesn’t stop from Monday through Friday. Often, that’s when our kids need us the most. Spending quality time with them during the week will provide parents with insight into their school life, friendships, talents, and any problems they may have. Keeping communication open, especially when we’re busy, will strengthen the bond between parent and child and help make the most important role we play easier.

There are ways to reconnect with your kids even though you have to run errands, make dinner, review school work, run carpools, and throw a load of clothes in the wash.  Here are some creative ways others use to get and stay in touch with their children during the work week:

1. Delegate chores and do them together. Sure, nobody likes doing dishes, but when mother and son are doing them side by side, they can utilize the time to talk about their day or their plans for the week, share a funny story, or bounce thoughts off each other. Besides that, everything will get done faster when everyone pitches in—then, you will have more time to spend together!

2. Cook together. If your kids are old enough, let them help you plan dinner or a snack and try their hand at helping you prepare it. Depending on their ages, there are many things kids can do (with supervision) in the kitchen, and it’s another opportunity to spend time side by side where you can talk to one another.

2. Eat dinner together. It doesn’t take long to eat a meal, but it’s time well spent as a family. Turn off the television and let the phone go to voicemail so you can spend this time with your kids. It gives you all a chance to regroup and come together from your separate lives and forms lasting memories.

3. Use transportation time wisely. Time spent in the car is a good time to catch up on what’s happening in your lives. It’s also a great time for learning. Whether you’re teaching colors (Look for yellow cars), reading billboards, practicing multiplication tables, or singing along to the radio, any ride is more enjoyable when you make it an interactive experience.

4. Play a game. Set aside 20 minutes for a quick game like checkers, a puzzle, or a card game like War or Rummy. You’ll have fun and so will the kids, something that often is neglected when our jobs and responsibilities demand too much of our time.

5. Synchronize responsibilities. If your children are in school, encourage them to read or do homework at the same time that you read the newspaper, the mail, or pay bills. Synchronizing your activities now will open a window of time when you’re done to do things together as a family. Talk about what you’re reading or doing and you’ll learn a lot about each other and what’s interesting to you at this moment in time. Sometimes, just sitting side by side while you focus on individual activities can be a comforting routine.

6. Read together. This is an excellent way to reconnect with your children and one I highly recommend. Regardless of their ages, reading to your child or having your child read to you is a bonding and enriching activity. Read a chapter from a classic children’s book, a tried-and-true family favorite, or let the kids take turns picking out the book of the night or week. Get involved, animated, take turns, and discuss the story. It’s a family tradition that just might be so loved that your kids will repeat it when they have their own children!

7. Exercise together. We all know children can be energetic! Rather than stifle them, spend time together releasing that energy. Take a walk in the park or around the block. Put on some music and dance or do yoga exercises. What a great way to build healthy relationships and healthy bodies!

8. Write a note. You can connect with your kids even when you’re not there. Pen a short note with your wishes for an awesome day and put it in your child’s lunchbox or book bag. Depending on their ages, give them a picture, a note, email or text message just to let them know you’re thinking about them. A word from you when you’re not physically with them will send smiles and love until you’re home!

9. Tell stories. We all know how much children love bedtime stories. Use this time to tell your own story, whether it’s fictional or one about them when they were a baby, their grandparents or your childhood. Encourage their creativity and imagination and take turns, letting your child tell you a bedtime story, too!

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