BY DR. ROBIN ALTER, THE PSYCHOLOGY FOUNDATION OF CANADA
MAR 9, 2018
We live busy lives and it is hard for parents to create quality time with their children when there is so little time. The key word being quality. Every kid craves time with their parents. Intimacy happens one on one, not in a group. What’s more, research shows that sibling rivalry will diminish when kids have individual time with their parents. So how do we find that time? Here are some ideas.
1. Have Projects On The Go
Pick a project. It could be a model, a jigsaw puzzle, something complex that needs to be assembled or a mural. It doesn’t matter what it is, but it’s best if it’s something that will take a while. Start working on it and leave it unfinished in a spot that is visible to you and your child. You don’t need to finish this in one sitting. In fact, it’s better if you don’t. This project then serves as a visual reminder of your connection to each other.
Even if you don’t have time to sit down and do the actual project, there will be many times during the day, or on the phone (if you’re a weekend parent or even if you’re a full-time parent), that you will find it useful to discuss the project. You can discuss the next steps, how you feel about the project and anything at all that communicates to your child that you haven’t forgotten about it. This will communicate to your child that you haven’t forgotten them.
