For ten months of the year, most students are in school Monday through Friday, usually from around 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. This means that during the week, parents only get a few precious hours with their kids each day. Typically, families may have around two hours together in the morning and then about five to six hours after school before bedtime. During these busy days, it can be challenging to maximize family time, especially when balancing work, homework, extracurricular activities, and other obligations. However, these weekday hours are some of the most impactful moments you can have with your children. Here’s why it’s so important to make the most of these hours, and how spending time with your children, without digital distractions, can create lasting bonds and positive onlife habits.
When children come home from school, they’re likely excited to share parts of their day, whether it’s a new skill they learned, a story from recess, or something that happened in class. If you’re present and actively engaged, you’re showing them that their experiences matter to you. For younger children, this daily check-in can build a strong foundation of trust and open communication that will benefit you both as they grow older.
To make the most of this time, try to minimize your technology use. Many parents, out of habit, might reach for their phones to check emails or scroll through social media to unwind after work. But these moments right after school and dinner can be key bonding times. Prioritize being present, giving your kids undivided attention, and keeping your technology use to a minimum.
Today, children’s lives aren’t just offline – they’re also heavily intertwined with their digital presence or what we call their “onlife” world. Rather than only setting limits on screen use, consider spending time with them in their digital world as well. This might mean helping them with technology-related tasks, talking with them about games they’re playing, or even participating in an online game together. Showing interest in their digital hobbies helps foster a positive relationship with technology and gives you insights into their world.
By joining them in their digital interests, you’re also modeling healthy habits around technology use. Show them how to balance screen use with offline activities and emphasize that spending time together is what really matters.
Spending time with your kids, both offline and online, is an opportunity to reinforce balanced technology habits. Discuss how technology can be a tool for learning, connecting, and even relaxation, but also emphasize the importance of balancing screen use with face-to-face interactions. For instance, you could set family routines where technology is put aside for certain activities, like dinnertime or board games, to ensure that these moments remain distraction-free.
Children are more likely to develop balanced technology habits if they see you practicing them as well. So, when you’re with them, try to minimize personal screen use, and use these moments to create a positive example.
Family time doesn’t have to mean solely digital or strictly offline activities. Instead, focus on finding shared interests that you and your child enjoy together, whether it’s cooking, reading, sports, or a family game night. You can even incorporate elements of their digital world, such as playing a video game together or watching educational content that they’re interested in.
These shared hobbies foster connection and show your child that you value their interests. If they feel understood and supported in their interests, they’re more likely to open up about other aspects of their lives, including any challenges they might be facing online.
The time you invest now in your relationship with your child pays off in the long run. By being present, engaging in their digital world, and reinforcing healthy habits, you’re creating a foundation for open communication and mutual respect. This bond will be crucial as they grow older and start navigating more complex online environments, peer pressures, and other challenges.
The hours we have with our children each weekday may be limited, but they are valuable. By making a conscious effort to unplug, be present, and connect both offline and in their digital world, you’re building a stronger, healthier relationship with your child. These moments, small as they may seem, are the building blocks of trust and understanding that will benefit your family for years to come.
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