SPECIAL TIME: The Best Way to Spend Quality Time with Your Kids!

Spending quality time with your kids is very important. It can be tough these days to squeeze it in and make it special.

There is so much on our to-do lists that it can be easy to want to check things off. Chores, bills, dishes, laundry.

We also want to do fun activities with our kids. Oftentimes, we are still in checklist mode, so we aren’t actually “there.”

We are so busy thinking about the next thing, we forget to really enjoy it. We don’t usually focus on how our kids think and act. We also don’t truly join in on their happiness!

In this post, I will share how we do “Special Time” with our kids.

These are the best ways that have worked well for our family and have a huge impact on our kids! They absolutely love special time. The day feels “off” on the days we miss it.

Best Ways to Spend Quality Time With Your Kids and Make it SPECIAL!

1. Set a Timer for 5-10 minutes
   • We started at 5 min/day/child and worked up from there. Now we do 10 minutes/day.
   • Only do 1 child at a time. Don’t try to do 2 at once.
2. Let your child choose the activity
   • This gives your child a set amount of time where they get to be in charge and call the shots.
   • It shows them you value what they like to do. You are willing to take time to care about their interests.
   • There are endless activities to choose from! We always pick something screen-free.
     • Hide n Seek
     • Tag
     • Catch
     • Go for a walk
     • Bike
     • Scooter
     • Blocks
     • Legos
     • Board games
     • Cards
     • Puzzles
     • Color/draw
     • Craft
     • Look at photos
     • Cards
   • 
3. Put Your Phone Away
   • Kids can tell when you are distracted and not paying attention. This really takes away from the whole experience.
   • We want to set a good example for our kids to prioritize people over screens and stuff! Read more about ways for moms to reduce screen time here.
4. Try to Enjoy it and Be PRESENT
   • It is only a short period of time, but it helps to fill our child’s “love tank”
     • Read more about filling our kids’ love tanks and the explanation of the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman.
5. Avoid Correcting as Much as Possible
   • I know it is so tempting to add the “Don’t do this or that.” It is important to remind and train children to be respectful. Teaching them to be careful and responsible is crucial. These 5-10 minutes are a great time to let that be until the timer rings.
   • You want your child to focus on the joy of spending time with you. Not for them to remember your constant reminders of their mistakes.
6. End Special Time on a Positive
   • Pointing out a couple of things they did well during special time is really helpful
   • Let them know you are excited to spend this special time with them again tomorrow. This let’s them know it is over for now, but tomorrow it will be great too!

• A few more key points for Special time:
  • DON’T take special time away as a consequence.
    • Spending time with you isn’t earned based on their behavior. You want to teach your kids you love them and love spending time with them no matter what. Unconditionally.
  • If it doesn’t seem to be a hit or working smoothly right away, don’t worry.
    • It can take a little time to find a routine that works best for your family.
    • Don’t worry if you get distracted by your phone or something at first. Try to notice it and take steps towards improving slowly.

Those are my tips for the best ways to spend quality time with your kids and make it SPECIAL!

I hope these tips help start a new tradition in your family. Practice limiting distractions and prioritize quality time. Really focus on enjoying your loved ones.

If you want a printable simple guide, click the button below. It will help you start special time at your house!