How to Have More Fun with Your Kids
It seems that today’s parents are expected to do everything perfectly. They’re expected to make healthy meals, help with homework – which often requires exceptional math skills -schedule play dates, drive carpools, and show up to every game, recital and parent-teacher conference showered and jovial. Oh, and they must also save up the right amount for post-secondary education.
While parenting is serious business, it shouldn’t be serious all of the time. Parents need to remember to take advantage of the fact that they live with kids. Kids, after all, are geniuses when it comes to living in the moment and not sweating the small stuff. Kids, yes, even older ones, are more than happy to have fun at a moment’s notice.
It’s important to remember that parenting can be fun. If we focus too much on being good parents, we’ll miss out on making wonderful memories with our kids.
Here are some ways you can start having more fun with your kids:
Be in the Moment
Your eight-year-old probably doesn’t spend much time worrying about their schedule tomorrow or regretting a decision they made yesterday. They are most likely fully engaged in the moment. All of their thoughts, feelings and senses are involved in whatever activity they are taking part in – right now.
Your first step to having more fun with your kids is to be right there in the moment with them. Present moment focus is often called mindfulness. So, if your mind wanders to all of those very adult responsibilities you have. Just return to your present moment and be – with your child.
Share Your Passions with Your Kids
If the idea of watching Dora the Explorer for three hours or playing Legos doesn’t thrill you, your kids will know you’re faking it. Why not introduce your kids to something you love to do?
If you love arts & crafts, why not start a creative project with your kids? Love cooking? Get them in the kitchen and teach them how to make their favourite meal. Generally, children are most interested in being with you, engaging in an activity together. Sure, your teenager may roll her eyes at the first mention of decoupage, but the reality is she wants to be included, and may be interested in trying new things and getting closer to you.
Make ‘Not Fun’ Things Fun
Most parents have limitations on their time due to their adult responsibilities, but this doesn’t mean we can’t have fun with them.
The truth is, ANY activity can be fun if we intend it to be. Doing the dishes together after dinner? See who can realistically quack like a duck. Have to study boring vocabulary words? Use a funny accent. Stuck in traffic on the way home from practice? Play “I Spy.”
When it comes to having more fun with your kids, there aren’t any rules, go with what works for you.
Need help talking with your kids? Sometimes having fun can be challenging when the lines of communication aren’t quite open. This is where a psychologist can help. They will be able to help you identify contributing factors and develop skills and strategies to manage the challenges you are encountering.
If you’d like to explore treatment options, please get in touch with us. We would be happy to discuss how we can help.
