Thursday, August 15, 2024

As we enter new fall rhythms, did you know that American families spend just 37 minutes a day hanging out together? 37 minutes. That’s not long.

If you’re like the parents surveyed, you’ve probably got a few understandable reasons for struggling to spend more time with your family, including the demands of work, chores, and your kids’ activities.

So, how can we make the most of these minutes?

Think: Quality Over Quantity

What would you say if I told you that those big chunks of time you spend in your child’s vicinity physically, while in your own world mentally, don’t count? Not to your kid anyway. Their love language is play.

Done right, we’re so much better off looking for small opportunities to connect than we are setting aside time we don’t have to half-heartedly participate in relationships.

So, as you’re thinking through your daily allotment of family time, keep these things in mind:

• I’m not looking for more time, I’m looking to spend our time more purposefully (with no phones or screens 😉 )
• We don’t need a solid 37 minutes to hang; we can grab five or ten minutes throughout the day.
  
• My kids long to be seen, heard, and enjoyed. That won’t take much time, but it will require intention.
  

5 Ideas for Grabbing Quality Time Together

• Making the most of your minutes can be simple. We gathered a few ideas below, but you might also brainstorm with your spouse and kids about what they’d like to do. Who knows what they’ll come up with!
• Teach your kids an old-school card game. Something like War, Slap Jack, or Speed. These games require little setup, are easy to get going once you know the rules, and either run short or can be stopped and restarted at any time.
  
• Get silly with a song. Host a dance party in the hallway, sing karaoke using a lyric-laden YouTube video, or crank up some lively tunes after dinner.
  
• Take a quick walk together. Walking takes you out of the home and away from most of your parental duties, leaving you free to relax and chat. Plus, it may just put you all in a better mood!
  
• Flip the script on bedtime. Instruct your kids to brush their teeth and get into pajamas right after dinner. By doing this, you avoid bedtime blues later on and can instead spend the last few minutes of the evening cuddling up, reading books, and talking.
  
• Watch with wide eyes. The easiest of them all. Find your kids, sit close by, and give them your full attention. While they play, say, with full sincerity, “Oh wow, I want to know all about what you’re doing!” Linger for a minute or two longer and savor how God created them.