How to Spend More Time with Your Kids

Dr. Anthony P. Witham, president of the American Family Institute, coined the phrase, “Children spell love…T-I-M-E.” But if you’re like most parents, time is a resource you have very little to spare. You know spending quality time with your kids is vital for their health and happiness, but how can you possibly squeeze an extra hour or two out of your already jam-packed day? Just follow these tips.

1. Integrate together time into your daily routine: Children love to help, so bring them along to the grocery store, post office, or other errands you have to run. Then, let them help you prepare dinner, bake cookies, or do chores. You can even do yoga stretches or go running together, which benefits you and your child’s health alike.
2. Carve out 15 minutes in the morning: Can you get up 15 minutes early to give your child one-on-one attention before work? Maybe eat breakfast together or go for a quick walk around the block. 15 minutes might not sound like much, but it could make a world of difference to your child.
3. Make bedtime stories a must: If you can squeeze more time out of your mornings, you can probably find another 15 minutes at bedtime to read a short story or a chapter of a book together.
4. Schedule recurring dates: You might do weekly family movie nights, family game nights, or rotating one-on-one dates with each of your kids every Saturday. Whatever it is, put it on the calendar and schedule your busy life around it.
5. Camp in the backyard: You may not have a whole weekend to spare for a family camping trip, but how about one evening? Your kids will love setting up tents in the backyard or even sleeping in the living room. Just a slight change of pace is all you need to make lasting memories together.
6. Choose time with your child over time on your phone: You may think you have no free time, but track your phone usage, and you might discover you have more time to spare than you realized. Trade some of this “tech time” for one-on-one time with your kids.
7. Prioritize family meals: Make an effort to eat at least one meal with your children every day. When you’re short on time, look for meals and snacks requiring very little preparation. Then, chat while you eat.
8. Write notes: When together time just isn’t possible that day, write a message to your child and leave it in their lunch box, by their toothbrush, or on the fridge for them to find.

Do you need help reaching your goal of becoming a dad? Dr. Joshua Green of the Center for Vasectomy Reversal is here for you. We believe healthy families start with healthy pregnancies, and we’ll help you get there by performing a safe, effective vasectomy reversal. To discuss your surgical options, please contact our clinic in Sarasota, FL, at 941-894-6428 and schedule your free consultation today.