Sometimes you feel like you are doing everything right and then one of your kids says something like “Dad, I don’t feel like I got enough time with you this week.” Oof, that can hurt. Especially if you feel like you went out of your way to spend quality time with your kids. If you’re anything like us, it’s hard to find time in our busy schedule to take each kid out and do something. Sometimes it’s easy to make the little things special, or take 30 extra minutes when you’re already out and about, here are some things that I like to do to put in some extra time with my kids.
How to Make the Most Out of the Little Moments
- Time in the kitchen-whether this is baking cookies, or helping with dinner, you spend time with your kids and teach them life skills which is a win win in my book!
- Stories at bedtime-whether you’re telling a made up story or reading them their favorite book, this is an easy time that’s already built into your schedule to spend some one on one time with each kid. This can also be a once a week activity per kid so you aren’t spending three hours each night reading to each kid individually.
- Game night-after siblings go to bed they can pick a quick, game to play with one or both parents.
- Popcorn and one episode-after siblings go to bed pop some popcorn and let them pick one episode of a show to watch. Don’t forget to have them brush their teeth before bed!
- Bike ride or walk-this is a great way to get some steps in and burn off any extra energy before bed and if you start early enough you could get two or three kids in on one evening!
- Sports in the yard-lean into what your kid is loving right now, whether it’s shooting hoops, throwing a ball, jumping rope, playing pickleball, even yard games! Let them pick what you are going to do for 30 minutes outside and enjoy the time together!
- Listening at bedtime-This is my favorite, my kid’s favorite, and the best way to wind down with your day. Now is it always easy? No. sometimes you just want your kids to go to bed, but it’s also the time my kids open up the most and I learn about everything! So I will never stop doing this!
How to Make Time for Bigger Moments
I feel like this can be the hardest, even though it doesn’t have to be that big. It can be as simple as taking them to the library one on one. I sometimes get caught up in how to make this work, especially with our busy schedules but here are some simple things that you can do to make your kid’s feel that extra love and care:
- Ice cream date-this is simple to tag on to a trip to the grocery store, or take 30 minutes after school or before bed, it doesn’t need to be a long, drawn out activity, it just needs to be time focused on them.
- A treat after a Dr or Dentist visit-now am I recommending you take your kid to get a treat right after the Dentist tells you there are no cavities, maybe, but it can be easier to go out and do a date when you’re already out and about!
- Taking time to sit and talk in the car after a long practice is a simple, easy way to say, I see you and want to know about your day. Sometimes we have to go from one game to the next to the next, so I want to take more time while I have my kids in the car, because these days won’t last forever.
- Breakfast date-going to breakfast might not be possible before school, but you could sneak in a Saturday breakfast run to Denny’s! Or if your Saturdays are packed like us go grab donuts for everyone, but take a kid with you to pick out donuts for everyone!
- Pick up their favorite take out meal and talk on the way to practice! This is such a fun surprise for your kids! Turn off the radio and listen to whatever they want to say or blast the tunes and have a Broadway performance on the way to practice. Either way an afternoon to remember!
Emily and I try to make sure we have time for date night weekly, but sometimes it’s hard to remember which kid’s turn it is for a date with dad. I heard the most brilliant idea the other day: there are four weeks and I have four kids so each kid gets a week and then we’ll always remember who’s turn it is! If you don’t have four kids you can use the fourth week as a family date night!
Sometimes the secret is letting them choose between two options. Kids feel special when they have input, and the one-on-one attention matters more than the activity. If this is hard for you to work into your schedule, let your kids in on the planning and I promise it will get done! Your kids will take over the planning or be your reminder so you don’t forget and you’ll make memories to last a lifetime!
