Education Today: Quality Parent-Child Time
*Content provided by our sponsor Michigan Education Savings Plan
By Sharlonda Buckman, CEO, Detroit Parent Network
The holiday season is over and it's back to school, work, and our daily routines! What memories did you make over the holiday break that stand out to you? Did you spend time with your children while they decorated the tree? Did you laugh as they ran around, creating chaos from the excitement of their new toy? Or did you simply have the opportunity to curl up with some hot chocolate and watch a great movie with the whole family? Even if dad burned the popcorn, these are the memories that matter.
One of my favorite moments from this much needed break was watching my daughter sing Jingle Bell Rock and making sure every sprinkle was secure in the sugar cookies she was baking. When the hustle and bustle of everything slowed down, we had the time to talk about when she was well-behaved this year and when she thought she could've behaved a little bit better. And while she asked me over and over, Mommy, are you sure Santa is coming?, she knew she had made the good list at the end of the year.
It's important to make the time to listen to our children's perspectives; whether it is regarding how they behave, their latest writing assignment, considering trying-out for a sports team, or just a new song on the radio. We cherish and collect these little moments and they make our children who they are. As parents, we are grateful for the days we get to break away during the holidays or summer months, but what about the rest of the year?
Begin carving out some time for you and your children now. You could set aside a couple hours a week for creating crafts, exercising, reading and writing, or going to a museum to learn something new. Remember that valuing that time with your child will foster a great relationship between you two as they grow up, and inevitably and wonderfully, become more like you.
By becoming a member of Detroit Parent Network, you can gain access to trainings, workshops, and parent support groups, among many other benefits. Find out more at http://www.detroitparentnetwork.org/ or on Facebook and Twitter (@DPNdetroit).
