My oldest daughter and I have had Mommy/Audrey time after lunch for about a month now. We spend time together doing activities where we bond and get to know each other. Because her love language is quality time, I like to dedicate 30 minutes to her, preferably between 1:30 and 2:00. On some days, Mommy/Audrey time is less than 30 minutes, depending on the activity.
I got the idea of spending quality one-on-one time with my children from Positive Parenting Solutions, instructed by Amy McCready. Ms. McCready says that having one-on-one time with your children helps prevent misbehavior. The first thing to do is to designate a time for when you will spend time with this child. Next, allow your child to decide what activity he or she wants to do.
That said, here are some ideas that you may want to consider if you ever feel unsure of what to do. This is also a good time to explore different activities, but in the end, it is up to the child to decide how they want to spend their time with you.
Play outside: Playing outside is a great way to explore the outdoors and learn about nature. It’s a great place to run and even throw rocks into the water if water is nearby. So much good happens when we explore nature.
Do chores together: Doing chores together is a good way to teach about the importance of contributing to the family and spending time together. For example, when my child washes the dishes, I’m next to her to drying them. Fun background music is also a great way to motivate getting chores done.
Do arts and crafts together: Arts and crafts are a great way to bond and express yourself. Find a craft you are interested in and work on it together.
Play a game together: My daughter and I love to play games together. It’s one of her favorite ways to spend time together.
Cook together: Cooking together is great because the child learns a new skill, and there is something wonderfully bonding about it.
Read a book together: Let your child pick a book for you. They love hearing us read and change our voices.
Take a daily picture: Daily silly pictures are a fun way to bond and laugh together.
When you are having bonding time, make sure that it is a part of your routine. Make it around the same time or after the same activity. For example, Mommy/Audrey time is after lunch every day for us. My daughter knows it’s coming and is excited about it.
As for my other children, my two-year-old is content with me reading her a book and giving her a big hug. She loves to cuddle. My five-month-old loves it when I feed him. All my children are at different stages, and as they get bigger, I will learn when is the best time for them to have a designated bonding time.
How do you spend bonding time with your children?
P.S.
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