Parenting

Spending Quality Time with Each Child

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Family outings are fun and good for every member of the family. You go out as a group and create happy memories together. But to get to know your children better, spending quality time with each child is imperative.

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We are now squeezing in quality time with each child weekly.

Quality Time with Each Child

We know that spending time with the children is part and parcel of a healthy family life. In our busy and modern world where both parents are working, we usually take out the children on weekends. We go on weekend picnics, staycations, and road trips. Or do household chores on Saturdays and go to church on Sundays. After that, everyone joins in the Sunday family lunch.

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These kids are wonderful. But together, it can be explosive. We really need to spend more quality time with each of them.

We compensate our absence the whole week with family bonding activities. And yes, these are all fun and look good in pictures.

But one thing that we often neglect is spending quality time with each child. This I learned at a rather later time. I just hope and pray that we can still correct it.

Importance of Bonding with Each Child

No two children are the same. Each one is unique. Even twins have different personalities and attitudes. If you have two kids, it is seldom that they have the same likes. So if it is a family outing, it is more likely that one has to compromise what he likes because he has to go with the entire family.

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Shawna and I recently traveled to Cebu. This is our first out of town trip together.

You may be able to make concessions, like this child gets to decide for the next outing. But the experience will never be the same.

Our eldest Shawna is already 10, almost 11, so she’s already a tween. Hormonal changes are taking place. Her temperament and personality are so different from Shane. Shawna is more serious and rather reserved. On the other hand, Shane is sweet, silly, and rather demonstrative.

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Shawna said she had a wonderful time in Cebu. She made so many memories, including a learning opportunity in a Philippine Airlines flight.

Then I realized I cannot always lump them together. They are sisters but they are individuals. Most of the time, Shawna’s likes get suppressed in favor of the younger sister. She is expected to “give way” most of the time. That is why, spending time with her alone is really important to get to know her. Her Papa does that when he drives them to classes. But I need to spend more alone time with each of them, like a weekly date.

Stages in Growth Development

Your children are of different ages. The older one will mature more in terms of emotions. The tastes in fashion, food, and idea of entertainment will also change.

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Dating Shawna in a neighborhood cafe. At 10, she’s grown so tall already, with the physique of a fashion model. In a year, she may already be taller than me.

Our little girl still wants to play with toys. The older one has shifted interests. When Shawna was younger, she enjoyed her education videos. Now, she is questioning them and commenting on how silly the plots are.

Our conversations are different, too. Sometimes, we talk about fashion, games, jokes, and even apps. But she has more factual information that she wants to discuss.

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Shane was my date for the opening of the Metro Store in Bacolod. She got a unicorn toy for behaving during the event.

Meanwhile, Shane will tell you about unicorns and cupcakes, and colors of the rainbow.
 
If you have any concerns about your child’s development, it is important to know that there is help and support available to you. For instance, Kinspire offers help and support via pediatric therapists to tackle developmental challenges and has some useful online resources too. 

Identifying Their Love Language

Sometimes, we think we know our kids. Then one day, we wake up and realize that they have become strangers. Spending time with each child will help you identify their love language. Then express your love for them in the language that they understand.

5 Love Languages

  • Words of affirmation
  • Acts of service
  • Receiving gifts
  • Quality time
  • Physical touch

While we all need the five love languages expressed, you can vary the degrees of expression. This will depend on how your child understands love. Just be careful if your child’s love language is receiving gifts–we don’t want to raise materialistic children.

How to Spend Quality Time with Kids

Here are some mommy tips for you when spending individual time with your child.

Get to know what your child wants.

It’s easier to impose based on our preference and family budget. But is that what your child wants to do? As long as it is not impractical, your date gets to pick your bonding activity.

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Our girls like to spend time in the swimming pool. Here Papa and Shawna take a dip at the pool at Park Inn by Radisson Iloilo.

The same applies to the birthday celebrations of bigger kids. Our eldest Shawna now prefers to travel. We started her birthday travel for her 9th birthday where she had a Baguio Birthday Adventure for Kids. For her 10th, it was Mermaids in Boracay Newcoast Adventure.

Go to where your child wants to go.

As long as it’s safe and it’s within reasonable budget limits, allow your child to choose where he or she wants to go. For example, your child wants to go to Jollibee so that he or she can have access to the play area. But you would rather go to another restaurant because you prefer the food. Since your child is your date, give them the capacity to make decisions.

Or better yet, you give the options and then let them choose. It gives them a feeling of accomplishment that their choice is respected. At the same time, it gives you the leeway to provide the options that you can afford.

Talk. 

You just got to talk WITH your child. Not talk to or talk down. You need to have a conversation. It might not be about life. It could be about KPOP or the recent game app. But it’s their language and we need to listen. We need to learn what they are up to.

Eliminate distractions.

So many things can distract us while having some time with our child. If we go to the mall, we can meet friends along the way. We can say hi or talk for a few minutes. Just remember why you are at the mall–you are supposed to spend time with your child. Not to spend 10 minutes chit-chatting in the mall while the child is fidgeting beside you.

Put your phone away.

It’s fine to take photos of you and your child together. It’s also important to keep a record of your memories.

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Dad and Shane at the Mind Museum Space Adventure exhibit in Bacolod City.

However, the use of gadgets should not take up so much of your time. After capturing the moment together, avoid the urge to post it on social media. What’s worse is, if your attention is divided as you wait for people to like your photos and comment on them.

More Time

So aside from our family time together, we really need to spend alone time with each child. It could just be once a week, but let’s make it a point to do so. We will get to know them better. Furthermore, it will prepare us for the challenges that may come with the teenage years.

Additional Notes

Our eldest usually spends more time with her Dad who drives her to ballet and other classes. Meanwhile, the breastfed Shane thinks that she owns Mama exclusively. Breastfeeding has many benefits, including a closer relationship with your child.

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When Shane and Dad go out, they play with superheroes.

Now, we have swapped. Daddy spends more time with Shane while Mom tags Achi along more often. I brough Shawna to Cebu for the awarding of the Globe Media Excellence Awards 2019. My online advocacy, Normalize Breastfeeding in Bacolod, was a finalist.

Shane wasn’t too happy with being left behind. But I knew that I needed to do this for Shawna. Additionally, Shane and I also had a trip to Cebu last year where we stayed at Radisson Blu for Nestogrow. Fair enough.

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Shawna and I after the Globe Media Excellence Awards 2019 awarding.

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30 thoughts on “Spending Quality Time with Each Child

  1. I love that you are trying to spend time with each child on their own. They should feel special about that. I also like that you are trying to identify their love languages. Sometimes, we try to do things for our kids and we are disappointed when they are not responding. But the fact is, it’s a love language they don’t understand.

  2. I concur with you that each child has his or her own personality. I have discovered this from my own three kids. I need to spend more time with each one of them. Thank you, Sigrid.

  3. Thanks for all the tips.
    I do agree that quality bonding time with EACH child is important for both the parent and the child.
    Memories build will surely be treasured.

  4. Each kid is different, it is important we realize that. They don’t all want or need the same things, so true. In order to know that, we need to spend quality time with them individually. Great advice. 🙂

  5. I had some friends at church that have 3 kids and they do a date night with each of their children. It’s so cute. I love this idea of spending time with children individually!!!

  6. I completely agree with this. I always give quality time to each of my kids. It’s fun to hang out as a family of course but I do agree that all kids need that individual attention from both parents!

  7. this is such a well written piece on parenting more than one child, mommy Sigrid! i totally agree with you i personally need to spend more time with my kids. but work is work, and sometimes the demands get in the way.

    1. I can totally relate with work. Which is the reason why we are almost always bonding as a family rather than with each daughter. huhu Hubby gets to spend more time with our eldest Shawna because he is the designated driver of the family (no choice).

  8. I couldn’t agree with this more. I read the book “The 5 love languages of a child” a few years back. It’s so important we tap into their inner love tanks, understand how to fulfill them, and take this time to spend with each of them. My kids always appreciate it when I do.

  9. I have one kid only. But I have read about the importance of having quality time with each kid. Thanks for sharing these tips, still with one child, I find I have to spend time with him alone than as a family.

    1. True. As moms, we have responsibilities. Then we also work and then there’s the other half, the household chores. Sometimes, at the end of the day, I just want to slump in bed, look at the ceiling, and be quiet.

  10. I have five kids and the struggles to be with each one individually is real! But I do as much as I can both individually (because they all have different interests) as well as together (to promote familial bonding), and I really enjoy my time with each of them 🙂

    1. Hi Katie! Oh my gosh! I can only imagine having five kids! These two are already driving me crazy each day. hahaha But kudos to you for spending time with each of your children. I can hardly find time with these two as well as my work and of course, the husband. 🙂

  11. Beautiful tips for parents as spending time with each kid one-to-one is so important. That is how a kid builds connections and relationships! And the parent could know what’s going on in their child’s life. The building of trust is very important in preparation for the teenage years.

  12. We have already been intentional in ensuring that there are no jealousy between our girls. But still there is this sibling rivalry. So how much more if this is being neglected. It is just hard though not to play favorites because one can be more endearing than the other. Then one can be achieving more than the other. The best thing is to really to get to know them thoroughly and always notice their strengths.

    1. I guess sibling rivalry when the kids are young cannot really be avoided. But it’s our role as parents to guide them into the right way of thinking. Eventually, when they are more mature in their thought processes, the instinct will be put behind and they will care for each other as sisters and friends.

  13. We should spend as much time with the kids while they still want to hangout with us. Time will come when they’d spend more time with friends and would feel awkward to go on a date with mom or dad. So for now I’m enjoying all the cuddling while watching their favorite movies, or strolling with them around NGC grounds, or eating at their favorite fastfood to get a happy meal toy. Every date with my kids count. ❤️

  14. Spending time para sa mga Kids ko..Yan dati ang Most guilty part ng buhay ko..As A single mom of two po kasi dati Need ko talaga magfocus sa trabaho at sideline ko kaya nakakalimutan ko na may anak pala ko..Thankyou sa Mama na always taking care sa 2 kids ko until now.Pero nung dumating yung Pandemic May maganda nangyari din naman..I was being pregnant sa partner ko now and this time pinahinto na nya ko sa pagwowork and ituon ko nlng daw sa pagaalaga ng mga anak ko time..And it wonderful..

  15. Importante talaga ang quality time with kids especially nowadays na may pandemic. Let’s take time to focus and give attention to them. Iba padin kasi yung alam natin yung needs, concerns and things that they want to know . Samantalahin natin na nasa bahay mostly natin ngayon ang kids. Create and make some activities with them na makakatulong to build stronger trrust and connections with our kids.

  16. Guilty here . 🙁 After ko KASi napanganak ang bunso ko hndi ko na masyado napapansin ang pnaganay ko. Napapansin ko nman kapag inuutusan or kapag may mali SyA. Minsn Pag tulog si bunso tatabi sya Sakin sabay saving “Mama yakapaon mo ako” 🙁 .
    Ang Dami po tlaga natututunan sa blogs nio po Mommy Sig. ♥️
    Next time I will always give time po tlaga na mag karoon ng
    Individually quality time to my kids. ♥️💪🙏
    Godbless po.

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