Parenting Ideas 

ENJOYING TIME WITH YOUNG CHILDREN – Parenting Ideas from raisingchildren.net.au

Special time together: why it’s good for your child

Spending special time together with your child is good for your child’s development and wellbeing. That’s because it builds your relationship and boosts your child’s confidence. Special time with your child is a chance to:

• give your child your full attention and send the message that they are the most important thing to you
• see the world from your child’s point of view
• find out more about your child’s likes, dislikes, worries and frustrations
• give your child some guidance, talk and listen

Time spent with you can help your child feel happier, be more relaxed and build resilience for the teenage years. It’s so important to lay the groundwork early on. Setting aside some regular special time for the two of you can help your child to handle the times when he/she doesn’t have your full attention, or the times when you’re apart.

Special time together: why it’s good for you

Sharing special time can be great for you too – it’s your chance to be a kid again and just have fun.

You’ll also feel good about being close to your child and staying up to date with what’s happening in your child’s life. Special time with your child can happen while you’re doing everyday things or you can make time to go for walks together, play board games and so on. Just sharing happy experiences helps to build your relationship with your child.

Sometimes you can make special time and have fun as part of your everyday family life. Here are some ideas:

• Make a special after-school snack together.
• Go shopping for food or groceries together and let your child help to make decisions, pay for things and have conversations with others.
• Read books or tell stories with your child at bedtime.
• Play board games like ‘snakes and ladders’, dominoes and simple card games. This helps your child learn to take turns and play fair.
• Be creative - build and construct something together
• Chase, wrestle or roll around together. Some rough and tumble can help your child learn how to be strong without hurting.
• Make time to go to the park together
• Go for a lovely walk or bike ride
• Give your child the chance to practise skills and get better at things like climbing, catching or kicking a ball.
• Lie on the grass and look for shapes or animals in the clouds or on a dark, clear night, go outside and look at the stars.