Spending quality time with your child

Spending quality time with your child isn't just about playing with Legos, doing homework, or going to the park. The first step is listening to them—understanding what they enjoy and then expanding on those experiences. This sometimes means stepping out of your comfort zone. While adults often prefer low-energy activities, kids love to be active. Enhancing their play with your experiences can make it richer. For instance, if you work at a bank and you're playing grocery store, incorporate a bank deposit into the game, but don't forget to allow for some imaginative fun, like buying a full bag of groceries for $2.

Quality time can also involve daily chores like doing laundry or washing dishes together. Kids love participating in adult tasks, and for teenagers, turning activities into competitions can make them more enjoyable. For example, challenge them to see who can finish drying the dishes before the other finishes rinsing, or race to put laundry away and see who gets back to the couch first.

Anything can count as quality time as long as your focus is on the child. This approach can make your day more interesting, sometimes challenging, but definitely more enjoyable and memorable.