Quality Time – Is it Enough Time?

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Single Parent Advice: In the 1960’s one would hardly hear of the term “quality time”. However, since the 1970’s this term has become a household expression. What does the term mean and how does it impact the children?

In the 1960’s one would hardly hear of the term "quality time". However, since the 1970’s this term has become a household expression. What does the term mean and how does it impact the children?

The term general refers to specific events and scheduled times to do things with one’s children. At first glance the concept may seem to be commendable, however many parents have seemed to reduce this concept to ‘doing things in the presence of their children – not necessarily with their children. For example spending time watching a TV show or playing a video game with one’s children may be ‘fun’, but those types of activities do not necessarily contribute to character development, meaningful communication and warm close bonding.

One internationally respected magazine had this comment:

Now, just what is this "quality time" we hear about? Busy parents may spend 15 or 20 minutes every other day with their child, maybe an hour on the weekend, and call it quality time. Is this adequate for the child’s need? Or is its purpose to salve a parental conscience? Or to ease the mind of a mother who works for self-fulfillment while leaving her child unfulfilled? But you say, ‘Honestly, I’m so busy I just don’t have that kind of time.’ That is too bad and very sad for both you and your child because there are no shortcuts. Find the time during the formative years, or be prepared to reap a generation gap in the teen years.

The same magazine had this to say:

Children need more than so-called quality time, that is, a set half an hour or so with the children periodically. They need quantity. A columnist in a Swedish daily writes: "During my 15 years as a reporter, I have met a great number of juvenile delinquents . . . A common denominator is that they seem to have been exposed to quality-time upbringing: ‘My parents had no time.’ ‘They never listened.’ ‘He was always traveling.’ . . . As a parent, you can always choose how much time you will give your child. Your choice is judged 15 years later by a ruthless 15-year-old."

Many parents find it very difficult to the needed time with their children; here are two suggestions:
Are there things that need to be discussed with your children? Are there many things to be done around the house, car etc., etc? Why not ask you children/child to help and at same provide valuable communication and training.

Of course, it will take some thought, so as to keep the communication up building and enjoyable. This would not be the time to serious and stressful situations. Those conversations may have better results if it is done in a calm and quite atmosphere.

As parents we may well realize that our children are like sponges, they absorb their surroundings! It is our job to provide them with the best we have in financial, mental, emotional, and spiritual support.

One father, after hearing his son shouting at him: ‘you’re never home, you’re always traveling’ —

He decided that, as a start, he should eat breakfast with the family. At first, it was just him and his wife. Gradually, the children joined in, and the breakfast table became a seedbed of communication. This led to family dinners together. Thus, the man was on the way to saving his family from a complete breakdown.

If you have any comments, we would love to hear from you! Please feel free do so at http://www.webjam.com/consumertips

Richard JaramilloRichard “RJ” Jaramillo, is the Founder of SingleDad.com,
a website and social media resource dedicated to single parenting and specifically for the newly divorced, re-married, widowed and single Father with children.
RJ is self employed, entrepreneur living in San Diego and a father of three children. The mission of SingleDad is to help the community of Single Parents
“Make Life Happen…Again!”

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Richard “RJ” Jaramillo, is the Founder of SingleDad.com, a website and social media resource dedicated to single parenting and specifically for the newly divorced, re-married, widowed and single Father with children. RJ is self employed, entrepreneur living in San Diego and a father of three children. The mission of SingleDad is to help the community of Single Parents “Make Life Happen…Again!”