As we all know it, parenting is more than just caretaking. It’s providing the physical, emotional, social and intellectual environment needed for the child’s growth and development. Quality time is an important factor in parenting. However it can difficult for parents to spend quality time with their children; things like limited time, resources, finances, and/or energy can be significant barriers for most people. This is especially true when both parents are working full time and the children also have schedules they must tend to.

Quality time is an important aspect of parenting. It helps:

• Build children’s self-esteem and sense of self-worth
• Strengthen family bonds and encourages positive communication
• Develop positive behaviours (through modelling)
• Can help address problematic behaviours and reduce overall stress

But for all us busy parents, quality time is about quality over quantity. It’s about what you do together with the small times you do have!

An interesting way to approach this is to know that from the time children are born and then college age, they have approximately 940 Saturdays. Now, if your child is already 5 years old, that means 260 Saturdays are already gone. As they get older, their schedules will likely become more filled on Saturdays, and the weekend more precious.

So, be present during the small times that are available! Here are some easy and affordable ways and ideas to add this into your schedule:

• Have a “themed meal” night & include them in the preparing and cooking. (Taco Night, Pancake Night, etc.)
• PJ Walks- have your kids all ready for bed and go for a walk around the block with no distractions (snacks, soccer ball), just walking and talking. They will be nice and tired for bedtime.
• Transitional Time- while driving or on your way to places- use this time! Play a car game
• Have a daily ritual that you and your child do every day- such as them getting to choose a book to read together before bed every night.
• Get crafty- crafts do not have to be as complicated as you think! Something simple and low-key, like fairy doors, fire breathing dragon roll, or this puffy paint.
• Go on/Create a Scavenger Hunt- Make a list of things you have around the house, take a bag, and find the treasures. Or, hide simple objects around the house and create clues that lead to them.

For your older kids, here are some ideas:

• Exercise together
• Volunteer together
• Go out for ice cream
• Do a spa-night (paint nails, homemade face mask, watch movie)
• Find a free festival to attend (during the summer- Latino Fest, etc.)
• Plan a games night
• Have a dessert night

If you want to kick start this, but don’t know where to start, here is a 30-day plan of spending quality time with your kids:

1. Question cards- conversations.
2. Drawing lesson on YouTube- or some other easy lesson.
3. Fold the laundry together
4. Coffee Date
5. Bookstore/library challenge- pick out a book you think the other person would like.
6. Plan a dinner together
7. Play a game of Uno
8. Tell a few jokes (have a comedian night)
9. Go to the dollar store and buy something fun
10. Go grocery shopping together
11. Take a walk around the block
12. Walk somewhere you would usually drive to
13. Fix something in the house that is broken
14. Watch a show you both love together
15. Read a book you together
16. Turn up a song and dance
17. Do yoga together
18. Make personal mini bagel pizzas for dinner
19. Hula Hoop/Jump Rope to see who can do it the longest
20. Challenge each other to a staring contest
21. Thumb war/arm wrestling
22. Play a game in the car
23. Use public transit to get somewhere together
24. Roast some marshmallows and make S’mores for dessert
25. Make some origami animals
26. Blow bubbles
27. Look for constellations together
28. Teach your kid how to do a household chore
29. Take some fun photos using different Instagram/Snapchat filters or with funny effects
30. Give your child a manicure

What are some of your favourite ways to spend quality time that are easy and affordable?