As a parent, it is important to spend quality time with your kids. This helps them become more responsible and compassionate as they get older. Here are some rituals you can start with your family to help your kids grow into great adults.
1. Saying I love you
It is important to let your children that they are loved. To do this, tell them who loves them by going through a list of the people who love them, saying things such as “Mommy loves you. Daddy loves you. Grandma loves you. Abd on and on.
2. Share kind acts performed during the day
To build compassion and kindness toward others, you should encourage your children to perform acts of kindness whenever the opportunity presents itself. This can include such small things as holding the door for someone or lending a helping hand to someone when it is appropriate.
3. Set aside family cuddle time
With the grind of everyday life pulling families this way and that, it is important to find time to pause and spend quality time together. One way to do this is to schedule family cuddle sessions each day after everyone is home from work, school, etc.
4. Clean the house as a family once a week
Make cleaning the house a family activity. Designate a certain day and time when the family comes together and cleans, such as Saturday afternoon. To make it more enjoyable, put on some favorite music, allowing your kids to dance around and have fun, with the stipulation that the chores must get done.
5. Share the high and low points of the day as a family
As a part of spending time together, you should encourage your kids to tell you how their day went. This allows them to talk about what went right and what went wrong, and potentially get rid of some of the stress they feel. Make sure to avoid yes or no questions when talking to them.
6. Have weekly themed dinners
To build a greater sense of connection within your family, come up with themed dinners to have on different nights of the week. Most people have heard of “Taco Tuesday,” but what about “Sundae Sundays” or “Pizza Fridays?”
7. Come up with special greeting and farewells
Come up with special greetings or farewells to use with your children. For example, when they are leaving to go to school, say something such as “See you later, alligator.” In response, your child could say, “After a while, crocodile.” This lets them know that they are special to you.
8. Perform loving-kindness meditation with your kids
Meditation is a great way to recenter ourselves and focus on what we want to accomplish each day. By performing meditation with your kids, you are instilling in them mindfulness and a greater ability to focus on the world around them and find their true purpose in life.
9. Teaching responsibility: Give each family member a specific task when setting the table
When preparing for family dinners together, give everybody a specific task to set the table. One kid might be in charge of setting out the plates, while another handles the silverware or glasses. You can even have one person designated to clear the table once everyone is done eating.
10. Perform volunteer work as a family
Likewise, instill in your children a love of helping others by volunteering to help out as a family. Whether this is time spent with the elderly at a nursing home or handing out food at a soup kitchen, your kids will take this volunteer spirit with them into adulthood and pass it on to their kids.
11. Go on monthly/weekly nature walks
Put aside time for everyone to go on a nature walk as a family. Not only can this instill in your kids a love of nature, but it also is a great time to bond as a family as you explore what the world has to offer.
12. Choose a few favorite stories to read each night at bedtime
One of the best things you can do for your young children is read to them, especially at bedtime. Come up with a few classic tales to read together each night, rotating through your child’s favorite bedtime stories.
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Sources: Big Life Journal, little big mindset
