Where did all the Play Time Go?

Rolling, running, creeping, crawling… those were the days when I could seemingly endlessly play around with my little one when ever I pleased. Puzzles, paints, laughs and giggles… it seems like this all just happened yesterday! But here I am, sitting in my van waiting for my son’s soccer game to end. And then it’s home to make dinner. And then it’s homework time. And then it’s bed time. And then… then… where’s the “us” time? Where’s that playtime I used to have so much time for?

As my kids grow older, the time I have with them seems to become shorter and shorter. There are some days when it seems we have only spoken 10 words to each other simply because the day has been so busy and hectic. School, sports, music lessons, dance class, having their own social life – it seemed impossible to get any time in with my kids. It’s all about devising a plan so that you can spend as much time with your kids as possible. Here are some ideas you may want to integrate into your day

Eat dinner together

More and more families these days are eating dinner in front of a television, a computer, and in completely different rooms. It may be hard to coerce older children and teenagers (and maybe even your spouse!) to all come together and eat as a family, but it CAN be done! Take this time to enjoy your family and learn about what everyone’s been up to that day.

Help them with Homework

Believe it or not, most children truly enjoy having their parents participate in their learning. Unless you homeschool your child, helping them with their homework is a great way to spend time and get involved with them. Just be sure they don’t some how trick you into DOING their home work!

Plan weekend excursions

You don’t have to go too far away to plan a fun family excursion! Make some suggestions and take a family vote. Skiing, horseback riding, bowling, or even just going out for dinner as a family can be a family trip out.

Partake in their activities

Whether it’s a sport, arts and crafts, or even playing video games or watching one of their favorite TV shows, taking the time to engage in these activities with them opens the door for some good conversations and playtime.

Ask your children if there is anything they would like you to become more involved in or help them with. Most parents seem to shy away from asking, fearing rejection, but you may be surprised just how much they love having you around!

photo by Justyna Furmanczyk