Love Notes
Put a little note in their backpacks or lunch boxes every night. Sure it's extra work, but what it tells your kids is that they're always on your radar even when you're not together. It doesn't matter what the note says – it could be a silly joke or even a picture. It will mean a lot for them to know that they're on your mind.
Bedtime Routines
What's the memory in telling your kids each night, “Go up, brush your teeth and get in bed?” Bedtime is the one part of their day where there's nothing else going on, so use it for quality time with your child. My son liked me to create stories. So, I made up many, many stories about the “Chubbala Bubbala” family. I had to really strain sometimes to come up with ideas, but what sweet memories. It's important to have an intentional bedtime routine. Brush teeth, get into jammies, get into bed and then read a book or make up a story together.
Dinnertime
No matter what is going on, there has to be a window of time in your day to sit down together and talk, laugh and share a meal. The time you take to connect as a family is sacred, special and meaningful. And, as I've discussed on my radio program many times, children of families who regularly eat dinner together do better in school and are less likely to have drug, alcohol and behavior problems.
When you invest your time in your children, you're influencing the future generations of your family as well. So, put in the effort to create a home that is loving with memories that will stay with them forever. Give your children positive family experiences that they'll remember with a smile.
How have you created meaningful time spent together as a family? Share your stories with me here!