Being present in body, mind and spirit with your child is a best gift you can give.  To be in the moment with the children, It helps to set aside 15 minutes by turning off the phone, clearing the mind of demands of life, and settling to the level of the child, no matter what age, with the intention of fully being present for and with them. 

Have you had a conversation with a person you admire, want to be like, and are in awe of?  How great does it make you feel, when that person looks you into the eyes, with undivided attention, as if you were the only person in the world? 

- Priceless, uh?

This is how our children feel, when we give them our time and attention.  We are the center of the world to them.  Till we teach them different, by not responding to their need and desire of connection. 

Try giving 15-45 minutes full attention to your child, connecting, talking while looking into their eyes, listening and playing role-plays.  After that time, they are ready to explore the world by themselves, and you will have a quality time just for your self. 

Being present does have benefits other than that, too. 

• Strong family bonds
• Better behavior
• Better listening skills
• Better social emotional skills
• Less time on social media, tv and other devices
• Better communication skills

Tips for making room for quality time with your child:

1. Self care

Make sure you are getting your rest, and personal time before your day begins. This way you feel resourced and are better apt to regulating your own emotions.

2. Put away your digital device and block a time for the quality time with your child

You want to send a clear message of presence to your child.  She/he will pick up right away if you answer calls or texts during your time, and feel that there is something more important than her/him to you.  You will not be spoiling your child by giving them undivided attention, on the contrary you will be building them up to understand their value as a human being.  They will reflect that back to you. 

3.  Communicate with your child

When you are working and busy, communicate with your child that you are needing to tend to certain things now, but in 1 hour you will have the time with them.  Set an alarm to ring 5 minutes before the time begins, so that they know what to expect.  This of course is age appropriately adjustable.  The point is to plan and communicate.

4.  Quality over quantity

Having a habit of greeting your child in the morning with warmth and presence, including her/him doing chores with you, communication over the breakfast, lunch and dinner, embracing the child after each separation time, and making quality time for evening routines goes a long way in connecting with your child!

5.  Having a right mindset

Having a mindset of building your time around your family.  Taking control of our schedule is a great way of intentionally blocking time for family.  Start with understanding the importance of your presence in family structure, whether you are a mother, father, or grandparent.  Quality time and relationship strengthens the bond and mental health of the whole family.  It sends a signal of safety and togetherness. 

Wishing you Happy Present Parenting!

“It is more important than ever to make our families the center of our lives and the top of our priorities.”

—L. Tom Perry