Modern parents are busy.
And why wouldn’t they be? With the high inflation rate in the Philippines, it may be safe to say that having just one job is not enough. Thus, most households need two income streams, usually from both parents.
As parents get more occupied with work, they may not have as much time to spend with their kids, which often results in various problems.
However, it’s not really an issue of “too” much work. After all, parents need to do what they think is best for their children.
If working long hours is worth the financial compensation to give their kids a comfortable life, then so be it.
Still, regardless of their busy work schedule, parents should avoid this one parenting habit: forgetting the importance of quality time.
Quality Time is Important
Most of the time, parents are warned about the dangers of “screen time” for their kids.
However, many people fail to consider the perils of having distracted parents.
Especially with the boom of remote working, it’s not so surprising that parents have increased screen time as well.
Think about it. Physically, you are around your kids because you work from home. But are you fully in the moment when you’re around them?
It is this chronic partial attention that you give as a parent that can negatively impact your kids.
While it can often be hard to control when to stop working (because let’s face it, some tasks tend to run past working hours), don’t let it get in the way of your quality time with your kids.
Again, working overtime isn’t the problem. But it’s the parents’ attitude towards work and how much they are emotionally involved with their careers that can ultimately affect their children.
So, to point you in the right direction, here are a few tips on how you can spend quality time with your children.
Do Household Chores Together
This is kind of like hitting two birds with one stone.
You get to clean your house and keep it organized while spending some quality time with your kids.
Further, it helps build their character as you are teaching your kids to take responsibility for their surroundings at a young age.
Eat Dinner as a Family
Ideally, you should be taking your meals with your family as much as you can.
But if this isn’t possible, at least make sure that the family is complete during dinner.
The last meal of the day should be where everyone gathers. Your kids are home from school and by this time, you should be off work.
As such, it may be practical for you to choose a job with clients that are not so distant from your time zone.
At Remote Staff, for instance, all our remote talents work with Australian clients. The time difference is not as drastic, and Australians are generally more laid back, so they definitely get to enjoy more quality time with their kids right after their shift.
The bottom line is, dinner should be a time when you and your children can catch up and talk about your day.
Create Routines
Having rituals, like bath times and bedtimes, allows you to bond with your children.
Apart from that, routines are beneficial for parents too. They help parents stay organized, which reduces stress on their end.
The consistency also sets expectations for both the parents and child, so that there is some predictable reliability in their day.
Schedule Play Time
Next, allow your child to choose how they want to spend their time with you.
Perhaps, they are into a new activity that you weren’t previously aware of.
As such, it can be a great opportunity to connect with your children and learn about their hobbies and interests.
Recognize Accomplishments and Celebrate Them!
Make your kids feel seen and heard by celebrating their achievements.
And no, this isn’t exclusive to getting a good grade or a perfect score on a test.
It can apply when your children step out of their comfort zones, like trying out a new sport. Or say, they put a lot of effort into a passion project.
Whatever it is, celebrate small wins!
Reduce Screen Time
While technology has its advantages (after all, aren’t many parents now able to work from home due to technology?), it’s often detrimental for children to have a lot of screen time.
Thus, make sure to lessen the time your kids spend watching television and/or playing with smartphones and tablets.
If you can’t help it, set a limit.
Remember, a gadget shouldn’t be a substitute for a babysitter.
Parental Influence on a Child’s Development
How children grow up ultimately reflects on their parents.
If you wish for your kids to become upstanding and moral citizens, then start cultivating the right kind of behavior as early as now.
Be mindful of what parenting habits you adopt. After all, parents have a big influence on their child’s personality.
On that note, if you are looking for a remote online job that allows you to spend more time with your kids, check out Remote Staff’s job listings. It is regularly updated, so you can definitely find something that suits you.
Remote Staff also encourages a healthy work-life balance, which allows working parents to have quality time with their families. If this is something that you deeply care about as well, join the team!
Register with us today.
