Family Time is Important Time
Written by A. Simon, April 2019, MN USA
©️Minnesota Kid’s Yoga Co., LLC - Blog
In today’s World, work is beginning to take too much time away from family time…
It is no known secret that in our modern world, a work-life balance is becoming an epidemic issue. With both parents working to make ends meet, and with kids spending more time at childcare programs, or additional tutor programs, family time is beginning to dwindle.
I was recently talking with a retired teacher, and I was asking her why she thought behaviors of kids have increased dramatically over the years. I thought it had something to do with media and screen time. However, she mentioned that she also felt family time has impacted behaviors too. As she went on, I realized she had a point. Over 40 years ago, in most families, one parent worked, and the other parent stayed home to raise the kids. That meant that at least one parent was spending a considerable amount of time with their children. When parents spend more time with their children, they have more time to teach positive morals, important rules, and life principles. Further, kids’ emotional needs are met more sufficiently, because they are with the people they love most.
This isn’t to say that childcare programs don’t teach morals or offer loving arms to their kids, BUT it does mean that parents in the modern world need to make-up for not being home with their children as often during the week.
So… how can parents begin to make-up for their absent hours? By doing family activities together. Family yoga is a great way to be together, and to practice healthy skills. Many families get memberships to a community recreation center such as a local YMCA or Lifetime Gym. These are also wonderful options. When kids recognize that their parents notice them, and want to be a part of their hobbies or activities they feel supported.
The Child Development Institute in their article, “Importance of Family Time on Kids Mental Health and Adjustment to Life” stated that,
“Children from birth to adolescence need time with their parents. This does not mean rushing from school to extracurricular activity to supervising homework. Interactive time is when both child and parent are fully engaged in an activity together. The importance of this time is crucial. It helps aide in the following…
The child feels important and loved.
He or she has an opportunity to model parent’s behavior.
The parent can observe and learn about the child’s strengths and weaknesses in order to better guide them.
The child has a chance to voice their thoughts and feelings.
The parent and child develop a stronger bond.
Multiple studies reveal that children are much more likely to develop emotional and behavioral disorders when they receive inadequate or poor parenting and each study uses the foundation of spending quality time with children as the first vital step to successful parenting.”
In conclusion, parents are not perfect and providing for one’s family while also working on a person’s own health is exhausting in itself. Often times a parent has to choose from getting a work-out in for themselves, or taking a child to a sport/activity for their child. However, yoga can be used as a tool for both. When families do yoga together, they are ALL getting a healthy work-out in, alongside building memories and gaining family bonding time. So, sign up for a family yoga class today. Contact me for ideas, or search the web for family yoga sequences.