Valentine’s Day Feature: 5 Tips to Spend Quality Time with Your Child
Happy Valentine’s Day from One Place! No matter how you’re celebrating the holiday, spending quality time with your child is one of the best ways to connect—while also supporting your child’s overall happiness and development.
Many parents worry that they don’t spend enough time with their children or feel guilty about working full-time, pursuing hobbies, or going out with friends. Fortunately, however, spending time with your child is more about quality over quantity—and even just a few minutes of intentional, present time can go a long way in supporting your child.
Top Tips for Spending Quality Time with Your Child
#1: Set a Daily Connect Time
Create a daily routine to incorporate quality time into your child’s schedule. This can be as simple as taking a few moments at the end of the day to ask your child how their day was or checking in over breakfast before school. Take time to find out how your child’s day was—what was their favorite activity at school? Who did they play with at recess? Did they have fun at lunch?
When you engage with your child during this time, keep the conversation natural and open-ended. Give your child the opportunity to share important details about their day and ask follow-up questions.
#2 Create Shared Rituals
Special rituals not only give you a chance to spend quality time with your child—but they also pave the way for lifelong memories. Choose something simple you can do every day, like reading a book at bedtime or singing a song together.
You can also identify important rituals together. If your child particularly loves arts and crafts or spending time outdoors, brainstorm with your child fun ways to spend quality time together—while doing something they love.
#3 Enjoy Meals Together
While it might not be possible to eat every breakfast and dinner together, try to prioritize a shared family meal at least a few times a week. You can also make a ritual out of preparing the meal together, having your child set the table, or help with any meal prep decisions.
#4 Give Your Kids Control
As a parent, it can be challenging to relinquish control over daily decisions to your children. But asking your child how they want to spend time together can be a great way to empower them—while learning more about their current interests or favorite hobbies.
#5 Stay Off Electronics
Electronics are part of daily life—from checking emails in the morning to sending texts to family and friends. However, when spending intentional quality time with your child, make an effort to silence your phone notifications and stay present in the moment. Put your phone away and give your child your undivided attention.
Our Impact
Child mental health matters. It sets a strong foundation that helps them succeed in school and work, develop long-term caring relationships, and feel connected to their emotional selves. To help supplement your child’s growth, inside and outside of the classroom, we recommend the following resources:
- Preschool Programs: At One Place, we serve over 700 children each year through our preschool programs. We focus on providing children with a warm, safe, and culturally-aware environment to engage in critical thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. Through this experience, each child’s social-emotional health develops, providing them with the necessary foundation to transition to grade school and beyond. If your child will be 3 or 4 by August 31, apply today.
- Triple P: Triple P Online provides parents and caregivers with a powerful toolbox of ideas and strategies to help raise happy kids, manage misbehavior, set rules and routines, and feel even more confident in your skills as a parent. Plus, you can work through the materials at your own pace—anytime, anywhere. This program is free for North Carolina residents. You can learn more about Triple P here.
- Tips for Teaching Your Child about Emotions: We recommend giving this list a read. Published by the Center for Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation at Georgetown University, it includes a variety of daily and weekly ideas for teaching children about emotions.
- Child Care Programs: If you are searching for high-quality child care programs to support your child outside of the home, we’re here to help. Click here to learn more about child care programs in Onslow County and how we can help you find the right option for your child.