When I was young, we had plenty of time to explore, imagine, play with friends and even get bored on a regular basis. What do you remember when you look back at your childhood memories? Do you recall stress, overwhelm, anxiety? Or do you recall laughing, playing or getting lost in a book? Today, it seems there are not enough hours in the day for basic life activities, whether you are an adult or child.
If your child doesn’t enjoy the journey of growing up, learning from life’s lessons, taking time to reflect, and receiving necessary feedback along the way, where they end up won’t have the same value; it can feel empty. Life is not about putting on blinders full speed ahead and missing the whole process, just to reach a destination. It has always been about the journey. That’s where the value is.
It’s not easy in this fast-paced world to slow things down so kids can reap the benefits of that journey. What can you do as a parent to support a healthier childhood? Here are 3 tips:
TIP #1
Keep an eye on your child’s activities; not just what they are doing but how much time is spent doing them. Is every moment spoken for with school, homework and sports, dance or cheer? Do they barely have time for friends outside of those activities and/or for family? They may be great activities, but balance is essential for success.
TIP #2
Many families are not able to eat even one meal together. They don’t have time to attend each other’s sporting events or competitions. They barely get everyone where they are going on time on a given day. This pace takes a toll on kids and families mentally, emotionally and physically, not to mention spiritually. Take time to reflect on family values and priorities. What are the most important things in your family? Are you giving them the appropriate attention? What things don’t matter, yet are getting primetime hours?
TIP #3
We all struggle with priorities and balance. Yelling at your kids for not being good at this will backfire. Instead, look at how you can model better priorities in your life so they can learn from the experience. How can you carve out more time for fun family activities that your kids will enjoy and remember?
There will be plenty of time for hustle and bustle in the adult years. Childhood is precious. Make sure your kids experience theirs. The journey is what matters.
Traci Williams is the CEO of A Loving Way to Parent. She is known for her practical and intuitive parenting style. She can be reached directly at 951-240-1407 or traci@alovingway.com. Sign up for free weekly articles at the bottom of the page and/or set up a free 15-minute phone consultation.