Nurturing Times FREE Summer 2009
Information on Services, Support, and Activities for Parents and Children in the Spokane area
10 Ideas for Connecting with Your Kids Reprinted from zenhabits.net listed as “uncopyright” by Leo Babauta.
This issue of the Nurturing Times focuses on parent and child attachment. The fact that many of families are currently in alarming economic circumstances is highly stressful. However, if you find yourself constantly overwhelmed by financial difficulties, it might help to set aside your worries for bit and spend some time with your kiddos. Whether your child is 18 months or 18 years, every moment you spend with them is priceless. It can be a challenge juggling work, family, and entertainment, but you need to make time for your family to get together and celebrate life. The variety of fun, and often free stuff, seems endless. Summer is one of the best times for you as a parent to teach your child new things, as well as exploring his or her interests. If you find you are still having trouble making a connection, after reading the articles in this newsletter, don’t be afraid to ask for some advice. Talk to a friend, one of your family members, or find a person who can be your mentor. I’ve learned from personal experience that when things become difficult, the worst thing a parent can do is isolate their family. – Continued on page 8 –
In this issue:
10 Ideas for Connecting with Your Kids................................................. 1 7 Secrets to Raising a Happy Child..................................... 3-4
Editorial............................................... 1,8 Connect Faces with Feelings................. 4 Free Summer Meals for Children.......... 5 Free Summer Family Events................. 6 Family Vacation a Tradition.................... 7 How to Plan a Cheap Vacation at Home.................................................. 7
Sometimes we can be so busy with our jobs, and our personal goals, and changing the world, that we have very little time to spend with our kids. And trite as it may sound, the time we have with them is so limited, and passes so quickly, that we may lose out on their childhoods completely if we’re not careful. Make time to connect with your kids -it’s worth the investment. 1. Make a date. Set a weekly date with each child, so you are ensured some alone time with them. 2. Read with them. I’m a big fan of this. Read to them every day if possible. It’s great quality time, and one of the best things you can do to help them in life.. 3. Talk to them after work. When you get home from work, instead of sitting down and watching TV, or taking a nap, or finding some other way to veg out after a long day at work … take the extra effort to sit down and talk with your kids about their day.
my 7-year-old daughter Maia and I are doing another goal -- to get her in shape for soccer in August. We have a workout plan, and I’m the drill sergeant, and we have a cool highfive we give each other at the end, and she has a workout journal. It’s a lot of fun, and it bonds us. 6. Play with them. Don’t be afraid to be a kid with them. Play video games, watch cartoons, play board games, have pillow fights, make a fort, play superheroes. Play at their level -don’t expect them to play at yours. 7. Talk to them in the car. Sometimes the only time my oldest daughter, Chloe, and I have together alone is when I take her to choir events or other school activities. This summer we’ve had more alone time, but sometimes we’re so busy, that the time when I drive her to and from these events is our only chance to talk. So I take advantage of it -- and we have some great, deep conversations in the car.
8. Have a Family Day. Every Sunday is strictly for Eva, the kids and I. We don’t work, we don’t do (much) housework, we don’t go to functions or parties (usually). We Take some time in with your kids. There are a heap of fun things to do. plan out what we’re going to do, and we do really fun things with 4. Play “Highs and lows”. If dinnertime isn’t the kids. Last weekend we went on a hike and a productive time to connect with your kids, it was a blast. That time is reserved for them try playing this game (my kids love it): go and no one else. around the table, and each person shares his high points of the day, and low points. One 9. Have a Family Meeting. Before we start or two or even three of each is good. And Family Day, we have our weekly Family everyone should really listen. It’s fun, and a Meeting (usually on Saturdays but sometimes on Sunday mornings). I wrote about it here. great way to connect. I know this isn’t exactly one-on-one time, 5. Work on a goal together. My son Rain but it’s a great way for us to talk about things and I recently completed a 6-month-long with the kids, have fun with them, and include goal together -- reading the first 5 books of them in decision-making. Harry Potter aloud together. We made it a goal to finish all five before the movie came 10. Just snuggle. Every now and then, just pull out (this weekend!), and it took some long your child to you and hug them. Snuggle, be reading sessions, and sometimes 2-3 times a affectionate, squeeze them tight. That kind of day, but it was fun and very rewarding. And physical intimacy is important -- and the day it taught him about setting and achieving will come when they don’t want to snuggle with goals by taking small steps each day. Now, you anymore. Take advantage of it now.