How to be a fun parent
Being a parent should be fun. But sometimes all the practical and domestic stuff that needs doing, can get in the way of being a fun parent.
Being silly, getting down to the kids level and joining in your children’s games can be difficult to get into the right mindset when there are so many other things demanding your time.
But it really is worth making the time to have fun with your children.
The benefit of being a fun parent
- You will find yourself tapping into the lighter side of life
- Your health and well-being will improve from more down-time
- It will help you bond and develop better communication skills
- If the games are physical you will burn extra calories and get fitter
- You will be spending more quality time with your children
- Your children will learn new skills
The fun parent to do list
The first thing you need to do if you intend to really embrace becoming a more fun parent is to create a To do List of all the things you would like to do with your children.
These activities can be simple like playing hide and seek with your children. Paddling in the sea, or watching insects and birds in the garden. Remember this is not activities to keep your child occupied, these are activities for you to play alongside your children and an opportunity for you to interact with them.
You are never too old to be a fun parent (and nor are your children)
You are never too old to having fun. Children, even quite grown up ones will still enjoy family activities and there are many grandparents who are up for a game with the kids. The reason is they are enjoying themselves and it feels good.
Of course like most things in life – joining in and being a fun parent is a habit. Sometimes it is difficult to switch from doing things that you believe really need doing to doing something which does not seem quite as important right now. But of course as the tagline of Help for Busy Mums says it is about “putting first things first”.
Team building and the fun parent
Team building maybe something people do at work to form relationships and create loyalty. Families are also very much a team. Whether you are a unit of two, four or even more, having fun when you are all functioning on the same level will build strong relationships. Long-term investment by you the team leader will also create a more harmonious family unit.
Being a fun parent does not mean that discipline, manners and boundaries disappear. It also does not mean that you are their “friend” not their “parent”. In fact quite the reverse. It means that you do things together. Whether that is tidying their bedrooms or helping cook dinner and along the way they learn and you develop.
Your fun parent and child to do list
Your To Do List needs to be written down and displayed somewhere that you can see it regularly.
- Do a bit of day dreaming and brainstorm all the activities you would like to do with your kids if time and money were not a problem.
- Think back to all the things you used to enjoy doing as a child. Climbing trees, visiting the park, camping, picnics. If you don’t do these things already – add them to your list.
- Think back to activities that you or friends families used to do
Consult the National Trust Website – fifty things to do before you are eleven and a half. But remember this is not about activities just for the kids – it is about activities you will be able to do alongside them.
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