If you’ve ever read any parenting books, you’ve probably read that spending quality time with your child is the way to help ensure they grow up healthy and well-adjusted. While this is basically true, there are other problems. Sometimes this quality time will consist of going to the movies or eating out, and that takes little time. There are some parenting tips you can use that will show you how to make both quality and quantity time work for you and the kids.
Spending quality time is often the main focus for single parents and divorcees who only see their children on a limited basis. They will tend to try to make up for not being there all the time by doing fun things like going to Disneyland. However, when asked about more personal matters, such as how their son is doing in school, they are not fully in the loop on that front. Keep in mind that when you feel guilty about your inability to do something for or with your child and then try to make up for it through some kind of compensatory act, it may end in unintended results.
When a father tries to overcompensate for his feelings of guilt, he tends to act more like a friend than one. When this happens, it can actually have a detrimental effect on the child’s behavior. Parenting advice points out that this happens because the child sometimes follows the model of the parent who exhibits this behavior, which makes him feel like a victim.
Because life is so full of worries, activities, and rushes, many parenting resources emphasize the importance of being able to spend quality time with our children. However, this can also stem from a parent’s sense of guilt that he or she will often push children to the back of their minds. This translates to “yes, I will spend time with my child after I finish this project or homework,” etc., which makes children more of a “to do” list than anything else.
While it’s fine to take your kids to the movies, dinner, or even Disney World, it’s not a substitute for proper parenting that’s necessary for healthy child development. A lot of parenting advice points out that while fun activities are good, you should also be there for your child at all times, even through the tough times she may be going through. Try to be more available to them, even during hectic times.