With such precious time to spend at home hanging out with the children, we want to do what we can to make the most of it. Between work, family responsibilities, social commitments, sport and even religious obligations, often the time that is left has dwindled down to a mere couple of hours. Our children grow so quickly and literally before we know it, they will be independent and hanging out with their friends heading off for a weekend away without you. It is good to find ways to involve your children in your everyday lives so that the time you are at home doing things, this can be time spent together hanging out and bonding. Our lives need not be so separated between adults and children and can be a happy and comfortable blend.
In the kitchen
We typically make a kitchen a no-go area because of the dangers and of the mess that can happen. But the kitchen is a great and fun place to hang out for you and your children. When they are really little and in the stage of packing and unpacking cupboards and clanging pots together, then you can set them on the floor and designate a cupboard with safe items that are childproof and fun. When they get a little older and want can stand and want to help you mixing and stirring, use a learning tower Australia has several outlets that sell these items, for them to climb up into and be able to reach you but from the confines of a safe structure that they can’t easily fall and hurt themselves.
With the chores
While it is much quicker to do chores and cleaning on your own, it is important on several levels that children join you for this activity. One is, it is again time to spend together, two is they learn the routine and habit of cleaning and not just leaving it mom and dad, and three, they build a sense of accomplishment and achievement when they help with the chores. It is important though to not correct or redoes the help your children offer, this will imply that they didn’t do it right or a good enough job. Rather go back and fix things when they’re not around.
Reading out loud
As much as you can, read out loud. When your children are young enough, they may enjoy the sound of your voice even if you’re reading your own book or magazine. There will come a time when they start following the story more closely and you may want to tailor the books to something easier to follow. However, you don’t need to make them too basic as they won’t be reading it themselves and you will be surprised at how much they can pick up and understand. Reading out loud helps expand your child’s vocabulary further than what they would get from a baby book. It also helps children learn to read with intonations and animation when one day they begin reading themselves.
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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