Recent research has debunked the myth that the more time parents spend with their children the brighter their children’s future will be. Instead, it is about the quality of time spent with children and the types of activities done together. An hour spent fully engaged with children is much better than a whole day if the parent is stressed or sleep-deprived. It is also important that parents find time to spend time with their children, even if during the week they leave them with nannies or minders. In this post we will look at 10 weekend activities for quality parent-child bonding.
In an interview with child clothing brand Tootsa one parent stated that she believed that getting children to garden with you is a great outdoor activity. She says that while children might not have the patience for gardening a parent can encourage other activities such as exploring and collecting to make it fun.
Painting
Children love to be creative yet parents mainly see this as a school activity. Set an afternoon to paint with your child. These types of activities are great for encouraging your child’s creative side.
Local Events
Always be on the look out for interesting openings and events. For example fire stations will often have a family open day. These events are great for parents who are running low on ideas because they are different from the usual activities.
Dress up
Young children love to dress up. One way to make it fun for both child and parent is to dress your children up in clothes from your wardrobe. As we all know children love to rummage through their parents’ wardrobe.
Watch Sport
If your children are the active and sporty type then watching a professional game will be a great way to inspire them. This shouldn’t just be a father-son activity, make it a family event.
Play Sport
Playing sports is great way for families to bond. Research has shown that tennis is arguably the best sport for families. This is because it can be played at any level and in many ways. Tennis courts are usually situated in the local park so make a family day out of it.
Mini Holiday
Take the children out of the house. Holidays don’t have to be weeks long and during the school holidays. A quick weekend break away will provide plenty of bonding time with your children. Even better if it is a surprise.
Cycling
Cycling is both healthy and fun. This can be an afternoon ride to the local park, a day trip on a local trail, or a whole weekend away.
Car Wash
Children love water and washing the car can be fun if you make it fun. Turning chores into games is great way to bond with your children. An added bonus is you hopefully get a clean car at the end.
Bug Hunting
Don’t let school be the only place your children learn. Teaching your children will develop a strong bond. Activities such as bug hunting are great for this as they are outdoors.
