Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
Whether you have children around the age of 6 or 16, it can be hard to bond with your kids. They often strive for independence, and that’s a wonderful thing, but it doesn’t mean you stop wanting to spend time with them. Still, you’re not going to encourage your kids to spend time with you more often if you basically force them to do activities that they don’t want to do. So, maybe that’s something to think about before you plan your next trip to a museum or shopping centre that they hate. It can be hard to think of activities that’ll please everyone, of course. Nonetheless, here are some simple ideas for parents who want to spend more time with their kids.
Explore the great outdoors.
The outdoor world is full of possibilities for adventures, and it’s definitely a good option if you have more than one child that you’re trying to keep happy. Whether you’re trying to spend time with toddlers or teenagers, a nice family walk around your local valley or park can be a good way to bond. It doesn’t really take much planning or effort. All you have to do is enjoy each other’s company and admire the simplicity of nature. The outdoor world can be a boundless wonderland to a young child, so you should help them to view it in this way. Help them to unlock their creativity. You could collect conkers from trees during autumn, put them on pieces of string, and have old-school conker battles. In this age of environmental uncertainty, getting children to appreciate the beauty of nature is more important than ever.
Of course, you could go one step further and take the family camping. That might be a more exciting way to explore the great outdoors. There’s nothing more fun than sitting around a campfire and telling ghost stories whilst eating some snacks. Kids and adults enjoy that. Even parents with grumpy teenagers can probably entice them with the promise of good food. If you visit a campsite, then it could be an opportunity for you and the kids to socialise, too. They might even meet other children their own age, so they won’t feel isolated. Kids want to spend time with their parents, even as they get older, but it’s important to accept that they also want to bond with their peers. Spending the weekend at a campsite could give them the best of both worlds.
Do some baking
As mentioned in the first point, everyone can be won over with food. If you’re struggling to get the kids to spend more time with you, then you should suggest baking. This is an activity that appeals to people of all ages. Even if they’re just getting involved because they’re excited about the end product, the point is that your children will be spending time with you. And that’s the most important thing. Even if your baked treats go a little awry, you’ll still have had a fun time together.
Plus, the more often you bake together, the better you’ll get. Eventually, you’ll have some biscuits and cakes that taste really good (hopefully). You don’t need to aspire to be a contestant on the next series of The Great British Bake Off – you just need to aspire to have fun with your kids. If you’re looking for some gear to get started, then silicone bakeware is more environmentally friendly than other baking moulds. That’s worth considering. After all, you’re trying to teach your children important lessons.
Play some games.
One of the simplest ideas for parents who want to spend more time with their kids is to play some games. All children love games. Let’s be honest: all adults love games, too. We just pretend we’ve outgrown them. So, if you’re looking for an easy way to bond with your family, then playing a game together might be the best solution. After all, some weekends are rainy. And, sometimes, you and your kids might be tired after a long week at work and school, respectively. Nevertheless, you can still have a fun weekend if you’re too tired for a demanding activity. A chilled-out board game (nothing too competitive if you’re trying to avoid arguments) could be the best thing to get out on a quiet Sunday afternoon. Whilst they might love playing Fortnite, kids do still love board games. You just have to choose the right one. A game such as Monopoly can teach children about properties in a way that doesn’t bore them to no end.
Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
