What is quality time?
Is it any time spend with our kids?
If your answer is ‘Yes’ then I am sorry to say you are
wrong. Quality time is not any time
spent with your child. If this would have been the correct answer then we
almost spend 15 – 16 hrs around them.
Quality time is the time dedicated only to kids. No gadgets, no other thoughts, only you and
your child or family. It could be as minimum as ½ an hour, but dedicated to
kids.
I understand now-a-days life has become very busy,
especially when it comes to both parent working. In this dedicating ½ an hour
to kids that to without any gadgets or other thoughts is like leading a
battle. I further recommend you to
bifurcate this dedicated time to kids so that it becomes an achievable task for
you. Spending 5-10 mins at a stretch is not at all difficult I suppose. It
would just be fillers in your busy schedule.
Can also read: What Is Your Parenting Style?
Can also read: What Is Your Parenting Style?
Recommendations on how to bifurcate the time:
Morning time: Caring Time
One of the most crucial time is the morning time. The time to wake us. At this moment if little love and affection is passed on to our little ones, they feel themselves to be at the top of the world. They develop a sense of existence in parents’ life. They are boosted with positive vibes which remains charged up in them throughout the day. They wakeup with a fresh mind.
Just by dedicating 5-10 mins here would be enough.
सर पर हाथ फेरना
बालो को सहलाना
कमर पर हाथ फेरना
किस करना
जादू की झपी देना
Anything that your child likes
Meal time: Sharing time
Meal could any meal or anyone atleast. It can be breakfast
or lunch or dinner time. I would prefer dinner time when all of us can sit
together and communicate with each other. We could share what something new,
something unusual, something exciting or something wrong happened with us
during the day.
This is the time when we can sit peacefully and laugh,
share, suggest each other.
There are possibilities where elderly kids may not like to
share their experience of the day, don’t panic because this might be new for
them, they are not confident how you will react.
Here you have to take initiative and start sharing your
experience so that a positive sharing environment is created. Let them complete
what they have in their mind, don’t interrupt, don’t predict and most important
don’t over react. If you want to put forth your suggestion or you want to pin
point at their mistake do it later, this is not the time for it. If reacted
immediately possibilities are that the positive environment turns into a
negative one.
But for the younger ones the scenario is totally different.
They may not have words to express their feelings or sometimes they may even
forget their experience, so we as elders we have to help them recall that
moment and start sharing about it.
So meal time is not only eating time but also sharing time.
Late afternoon time: Playing time
After resting in the afternoon you can arrange a play time
for them, it could be as small as 10-15 mins. During this time you have to be
just a listener and kids will be the host. You have to follow all the
instructions given to you by your kids. It could be playing silly games or
watching their favourite cartoon together or dancing or could be anything. Be
prepared.
Kids must be given independence to do what so ever they like
to do during this period. They listen to us through out the day, can’t we
listen to them for 15 mins.
I am sure ‘Yes, we can.’
Bed time: Motivational time
Just before they actually go to sleep we can spend some
motivational time with our kids. We can remind them what all good and
appreciable things they have done throughout the day. Make them realize you are
very happy for it. Recall them the initiatives they have taken, no matter they
have succeeded or not.
To boost their motivation share some Panchatantra Stories or
Moral Stories. It is believed, ‘When kids sleep motivated, they wakeup
motivated.’
By spending quality time with our kids we help them in their
overall development. Being a parent who doesn’t want child’s overall
development in just 30 mins.
From today onwards let’s make it a point to spend atleast 30
mins of quality time with our kids.
Whoever agrees show me
