Regret Looking Back & Ways to Spend One-on-One Time with Your Kids

Looking back if I could do one thing differently, I would have scheduled a lot more consistent one-on-one time with each of my children. It would be time with no distractions to enjoy each other and just have fun. I was always so busy when they were young (and most of it was being busy with their needs) but I wish I would have made more individual time with each of my three kids. I regret not being able to look back and having more meaningful, individual moments that were shared just between us.

Setting up family time is crucial and finding the time for everyone together is not always easy, but setting up one-on-one with each child is also just as important. It doesn’t have to be every day or the same day each month. With busy schedules it is not often feasible to stick to a rigid schedule, but you will have to plan ahead. Make sure that you set a time on the calendar that your child can look forward to and cherish. And don’t let something else cause you to bail on your promise to make time for just them!

When you do go out for your special time together, don’t make it centered around having deep conversations about life lessons or following a strict agenda. On the contrary, you should do things that are spontaneous and lighthearted and easy going so that there is no pressure to do anything other than to enjoy each other, create happy memories and build a strong relationship. Values such as accountability, belonging, enthusiasm, individuality, love, playfulness, respect, significance and value in your relationship are only some of the possible outcomes. Spending time together doing various types of things will bring up so many different opportunities for passing along your personal values to your children but most of all, you will have a meaningful and unbreakable bond created from love and happiness.

Ways to schedule one-on-one time and strengthen your relationship with your child.

  • Have a meal out at a restaurant & try new foods
  • Go for a walk and look for new plants and flowers
  • Go window shopping
  • Explore a new hiking or biking trail
  • Take separate vacations with the kids
  • Go to the library and read books
  • Paint on canvas or do and art project together
  • Go to a new place to take photographs of a city or nature
  • Find community events that are free in your area
  • Go to a museum, zoo or aquarium
  • Cook a meal together
  • Bake or make a treat together
  • Do a scavenger hunt
  • Explore science experiments
  • Go get pedicures or manicures
  • Do a puzzle or play a game
  • Make a game and play it together
  • Make a fort and have a read-a-thon or watch a movie
  • Explore new parks near you
  • Make paper boats and sail them

I hope that you take my advice to spend more individual time with your kids before your kid’s schedules that are too busy to carve out time for one-on-one time with you.

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