Build Relationships With Your Kids: Family Relationship Challenge #1

It's easy to get caught up in the day-to-day routine without thinking too much about where time goes. So, before you find yourself saying, "She grew up so fast!" get in some quality bonding time with your kiddos today.
Challenge 1: Build relationships with your kids
How to sneak in real bonding time with your babies:
1) Have dinner together at least three nights a week. I know that might sound like a challenge, given your busy schedule, but the benefits are well worth it! Research shows that children whose families regularly eat dinner together have higher academic achievement scores, eat more nutritious meals and are better adjusted. Additionally, family dinnertime will increase communication within your family and help you build stronger relationships with your children, regardless of their age. Tips:

• Don't eat in front of the TV!
• No cell phones or texting.
• Let your kids pick the menu one night and assist them in preparing it.
• Promote conversation. Play two truths and a lie, where each person tells two truths and a lie about themselves or something they've experienced and everyone else at the table has to guess which one of the three things is a lie.
• Have fun! Don't use the time to talk about what's wrong. Instead, use it to talk about what's right or to just share. Try to listen and not judge until you've had some time to think about what's being shared.

Alternate: If you already have dinner together at least three nights a week, then your challenge is to have one big family gathering for the week. During your family gathering you can play board games, have a video game tournament, take a trip to the movies/museum, make arts and crafts, tell stories or do anything else that brings the entire family together for some fun! 2) Spend 30 minutes doing the one thing your child loves the most and 30 minutes doing the one thing you love the most. Sometimes with our hectic schedules, we don't spend as much time with our children as we would like or as we should. During this challenge, your one-on-one time with your child is going to be sharing your favorite things with each other. You will have an even greater appreciation for their favorite hobby when you get down on their level and do it with them. Your kids do lots of things that you usually may only watch—this is your chance to get involved. They will also learn what's special and important to you when you spend time together doing your favorite thing. Tips:

• Try it, even if you don't like it! Your kids may ask you to do something that they always do, but you never do. That's okay because this is your time to learn all about it.
• Share your passion. When your child is doing what you love, explain to them why you love it. You can use this time as an opportunity to teach them about something that they might not yet appreciate or understand.
• Include your baby, too! Even if your child is only an infant, you can spend extra time doing something you know they love (like taking a bath or being tickled) and they can still do something with you that you love like taking a walk or sitting with you while you read your favorite magazine.

Hug it out!

My questions to you: Is it hard for you to find the time for quality bonding with your kids? What could you try that might help?