It's great to spend a bit of quality time with your children but fitting in hours of 1-2-1 quality time with full focus on them and only them can feel tough and naturally, as parents, when we don't manage it, we are hardwired to feel guilt.
The good news is that expert Charles Opondo from Oxford Univerity's 'Department of Population Health' has discovered that "Feeling good about being a [parent], making an emotional connection with children and establishing a secure parenting relationship are perhaps even more important...than time spent on childcare duties."
In other words, it's how you feel about parenting which matters and not necessarily the time you spend one-on-one with your child. In fact, it is the routine you naturally set up when you enjoy being a parent such as breakfast time together, spending time together at the supermarket, chatting in the car whilst doing your daily jobs, eye contact and smiles during nappy changes and story time at bed time will all count towards your time-spent quota! Doesn't that feel good? The things you are naturally doing are what matters...the games and the 'Fun Mum/Dad' time are not the key to being a good parent and having a happy child.
The daily routine you naturally set up will all count towards your time-spent quota!
But natually we still want to have fun with our children outside of the daily routine so we need to find ways we can easily spend focussed, quality time with them as a part of our day that won't make us feel overwhelmed but that will help us to feel that we have had a lovely bit of fun time with our small people.
Calm Play
The Calm Play Method is designed to offer you quick, fun and easy games and ideas to inspire you.
Let us know how you get on! Which is your little one's favourite?
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