What is quality time?
Quality time is time that you spend tuning in and being in the moment with your child. It’s thinking about what’s going on for your child, and talking, listening or playing with them.
Quality time can happen anytime and anywhere.
Sometimes it can happen while you’re doing ordinary things together like folding the laundry. Or it can be a chat in the car on the way to school, a laugh while you’re washing up together, or a cuddle while you read a book before bed.
You can also plan quality time with your child – for example, going for a walk, singing and dancing, or playing board games together.
Why quality time is good for your child
Spending quality time with you is good for your child’s development and wellbeing. That’s because it builds your relationship and boosts your child’s confidence.
Quality time with your child is a chance to:
- give your child your full attention
- send the message that your child is the most important thing to you
- see the world from your child’s point of view
- find out more about your child’s likes, dislikes, worries and frustrations
- give your child guidance, talk to them and listen to them
- be a role model for your child.
When you and your child spend quality time together, it can help your child feel happier and more relaxed. It can also help them build resilience for the teenage years. That’s why it’s so important to lay the groundwork early on.
And regular quality time with you can help your child to handle the times when they don’t have your full attention or when you’re apart.
Why quality time is good for you
Sharing quality time can be great for you too – it’s your chance to be a kid again and just have fun.
You’ll also feel good about being close to your child and staying up to date with what’s happening in their life. Just sharing happy experiences helps to build your relationship.
Tips for turning everyday activities into quality time
Sometimes you can make quality time and have fun as part of your everyday family life. Here are ideas:
- Make a special after-school snack together. Or let your child choose a dinner recipe that you can cook together.
- Go shopping for food or groceries together and let your child help to make decisions, pay for things and talk with shop assistants.
- Eat meals together as a family and chat about your day.
- Make car trips fun by playing ‘I spy’, ‘spotto’ or ‘Who can see the next car with a number plate that makes a word?’ You could sing along to music together too.
- Read books or tell stories with your child at bedtime.
- Point out things that you know your child likes as you go about the day, and talk about these things together – for example, a cool car or a beautiful tree.
If you’re away from your child for a long period of time, you can use digital technology to spend quality time with them. For example, you could video-call your child and read books together, send each other text messages or play games online together.
Play activities and games to share with kids
Play activities and games are good ways to spend quality time with your child. You can set aside parts of the day or week for these activities. Or if your child is playing, you can ask to join in.
Here are simple ideas to get you started:
- Let your child take the lead with play. You’ll soon find out what your child enjoys or what sparks their imagination.
- Play word games and make up jokes and riddles together. You can start with jokes like ‘Knock knock’ or ‘Why did the chicken, frog, cow (whatever makes you laugh) cross the road?’ Then get your child to make up their own.
- Chase, wrestle or roll around together. This kind of rough-and-tumble play can help your child learn how to be strong without hurting others.
- Play board games like ‘snakes and ladders’, dominoes and simple card games. This helps your child learn to take turns and play fair.
- Spend time making things together, like drawing a picture or making a collage from photos cut out of a magazine.
Fun outdoor activities to enjoy with kids
Outdoor play is always a good way to have fun quality time, and it’s good exercise too. Here are ideas:
- Make time to go to the park together – walk or ride a bike there, if you can.
- Give your child the chance to practise skills and get better at things like climbing and catching a ball.
- Lie on the grass and look for shapes or animals in the clouds.
- Go for a walk around your neighbourhood.
- On a dark, clear night, go outside and look at the stars.