5 ways to steal some time with your kids

Families can be like passing ships with their hectic lifestyles but it is important to make time.

Families are now more than ever getting to spend less and less time together (such is the demands of busy family life) and it is difficult to actually spend quality time together and connect as a family. It seems like there is always something on, somewhere to go and someone to see so days and weeks go by in an instant. Here are a few tips on how you can make time for each other without the world falling apart!
  • Step away from the phones- It is kind of obvious but the phones are the distraction most families can relate to and we all understand that we need to put them away. This isn’t easy for the youth of today though and getting them to give up their much loved gadget is difficult but if you all do it together and for a couple of hours surely it is ok?
  • Turn off the technology- Laptops, tablets, and games consoles can be to be turned off for a few hours each week making way for the old fashioned board games when everyone sits together and plays happily. It is easy to have the house full of the kids but each child been in a different area alone playing the device of their choice, and no one actually conversing! 
  • Say no to visitors- The doorbell never seems to stop once you have school age children but for a few hours let the doorbell ring or tell your kids friends they aren’t going out till later. Just spend time together away from distractions and people coming in and out endlessly, it will do you all good. 
  • Eat meals together as much as you can- It is fairly simple yet families find it hard to eat meals together regularly due to parents unsociable working hours or the amount of extra-curricular activities your children have. However, you should try to eat together as much as possible throughout the week and enjoy the little chats about everyone’s day.
  • Support each other’s interests- Your youngest may not want to watch their sibling play football but it is good to encourage them to  support each others interests. 
Written by Emma, staff writer with www.familyfriendlyhq.ie and Irish mummy blogger. Check out her own blog at emmasmadjotters.com

Emma Hayes

Emma Hayes is a busy mum to two girls aged 17 and 11 and is married to her childhood sweetheart.

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