SB Parenting

the value of QUALITY TIME BY URSULA BRANTLEY

In a world full of careers, bills, extracurricular activities, n a world full of careers, bills, extracurricular activities, home management, and a slew of other responsibilities, parents do their best to make sure they’re spending much needed quality time with their children. much needed quality time with their children.

It’s not always easy balancing life and parenthood, but consistent one-on-one time with your children is vital to their development. According to Our World in Data, a trusted source of information for publications such as The Wall Street Journal and institutions such as Oxford University, the amount of time that parents are spending with their children has been increasing over the last 50 years. When it comes to getting in that one-on-one time with children, the key things are consistency and undivided attention. That means disconnecting from devices and really focusing on one another.

Quality Over Quantity

Many parents feel guilty when various responsibilities cut into time with their children, but studies have shown that the quality of time parents spend matters more than the quantity. The National Association for the Education of Young Children, or NAEYC, reports that high quality time is what is most beneficial to children and has a positive effect on them as they grow. Having a weekly movie night, participating in a favorite activi-

ty, or reading before bed are all great ways to connect.

Individual Time

Strong child-parent relationships help build It’s not always easy balancing life and parenthood, but consis tent one-on-one time with your children is vital to their de self-confidence, promotes positive behavior inside and outside the home, helps of information for publications such as The Wall Street Jour nal and institutions such as Oxford University, the amount of time that parents are spending with their children has been increasing over the last 50 years. When it comes to getting in that one-on-one time with children, the key things are conchildren with their academics, and strengthens the family bond. Children need quality time from both parents if that is an option for them. It’s true that many from devices and really focusing on one another. children are raised in single parent homes, but if they have access to both parents, it is crucial that they receive consistent quality time with each parent. According to Psychology Today, Many parents feel guilty when various responsibilities cut into time alone with mom can be different from time alone with time with their children, but studies have shown that the qual dad, and those differences reinforce the strengths that come ity of time parents spend matters more than the quantity. The from each of them. National Association for the Education of Young Children, or NAEYC, reports that high quality time is what is most benefi cial to children and has a positive effect on them as they grow. Having a weekly movie night, participating in a favorite activi Small Gestures Time doesn’t always permit for certain activities or routines and that’s completely understandable. Something as small as leaving a note in your child’s lunch or telling jokes and sing-

ty, or reading before bed are all great ways to connect.

Individual Time

Strong child-parent relationships help build self-confidence, promotes positive behavior inside and outside the home, helps children with their academics, and strengthens the family bond. Children need quality time from both parents if that is an option for them. It’s true that many children are raised in single parent homes, but if they have access to both parents, it is crucial that they receive consistent quality time with each parent. According to Psychology Today, time alone with mom can be different from time alone with dad, and those differences reinforce the strengths that come from each of them.

Small Gestures

Time doesn’t always permit for certain activities or routines and that’s completely understandable. Something as small as leaving a note in your child’s lunch or telling jokes and sing-

ing songs on the way to school can also make a child feel seen and valued. Those moments may not seem like much, but it moments may not seem like much, but it can mean the world to the child as well can mean the world to the child as well as the parent.

Communication

Spending valuable time with your children also encourages positive commu-dren also encourages positive commu nication skills. It can be difficult to get nication skills. It can be difficult to get more than a one- or two-word answer more than a one- or two-word answer when asking your child about their day when asking your child about their day so it matters how you phrase your ques-so it matters how you phrase your ques tions. Instead of asking an open-ended tions. Instead of asking an open-ended question like, “How was your day?” try question like, “How was your day?” try asking, “What was your biggest challenge today? How did you work through it?” today? How did you work through it?” You’d be surprised at how much information children are willing to share if they tion children are willing to share if they are asked the right questions. Participat-are asked the right questions. Participat ing in quality conversations also teaches ing in quality conversations also teaches children how to properly express them-children how to properly express themselves in a safe space.

Love

It’s also essential to tell your children that you love them every day. When a that you love them every day. When a child feels loved at home, they won’t feel the need to find love and affection elsewhere. As adults, we know that searching the and affection elsewhere. As adults, we know that searching the world for love and attention can lead to the dangerous situa world for love and attention can lead to the dangerous situations and unwise choices that we try to protect our children tions and unwise choices that we try to protect our children from. Building emotionally and mentally strong children be from. Building emotionally and mentally strong children begins at home with their parents and families. Children who are raised in loving environments tend to carry those values with them as they grow up and go on to raise their own families.

gins at home with their parents and families. Children who are raised in loving environments tend to carry those values with them as they grow up and go on to raise their own families.

As the saying goes, it’s easier to raise strong children than it is to fix broken adults. than it is to fix broken adults.

STILL MINISTERING TO OTHERS

Harvey Gafford and his wife of more than four decades, Sandra, have been blessed with a nicely sized family that includes five adult children and ten grandchildren. (Harvey himself is the 14th of 19 siblings.) When he’s not wrapped up in his own family, he ministers to others in God’s family as a deacon at his church.

After suffering from a gunshot wound when he was 18, Harvey struggled for years with drop foot and partial paralysis in his right leg. His job at a hospital contributed to further issues, beginning with an infection that took half his foot and ultimately caused recurring infections that led to the amputation of his leg below the knee.

He grappled with inferior prostheses for years that gave him “nothing but trouble”—until by chance he struck up a conversation with a stranger wearing a prosthesis, who happened to work at Snell’s and invited Harvey to come by for an initial consultation.

“That’s how I got started going to Snell’s and I’ve been happy ever since.” He hopes his life may somehow serve as an example for others. “If the pictures (and my story) can help anyone who is going through something similar, then that’s what I’m all about.”

ORTHOTICS • PROSTHETICS

www.SnellsOnline.com

Four Generations of Innovation

1833 Line Avenue | Shreveport | 318.424.4167 211 Hall Street | Monroe | 318.388.3126 1004 Bayou Place | Alexandria | 318.443.6391