Queenwood

The Gift of Time

Time is a precious commodity. As Anni Sandwell, Head of Junior School at Queenwood School, explains to Beaches COVERED., quality time with daughters is essential for their development into young women.

Research indicates that time spent with children is not necessarily a huge undertaking. It can be as simple as engaging in tasks they like to do and giving them purposeful attention in short, quality bursts.

Spending quality time with your daughters when they’re young is a great way to foster a loving, healthy relationship. Simple moments together will be recalled when the girls grow older; times you showed your love and care for them specifi cally.

THE BENEFITS OF QUALITY TIME

• Mental, emotional, social, and physical development

• You will feel closer to your daughter. You’ll form a deepening connection, develop empathy, establish a slower pace and enhance well-being.

• Your daughter will be more likely to confi de in you when she’s older if quality time is implemented with parents when she’s younger

• Your daughter will feel more confi dent and increasingly likely to have a go at new things

• Educational benefi ts – building foundations for school success.

Developing speaking and listening, vocabulary, reading and writing, counting, making connections and problem solving, social and self-management skills, relating real life experiences to school learning – new syllabus documents refer to the value of skills established at home • Family time is happier and there are fewer behavioural issues at home or school

• Children learn how to interact with each other as well as with adults

• Children can become more creative, compassionate, and loving with regular quality time

• Modelling values and promoting curiosity, wonder, agency, and action

• Physical health. Children who spend quality time with their parents are more likely to be physically healthy, with enhanced balance, coordination, and overall growth

• Quality time with pre-teens or teens means they’re less likely to engage in risky behaviour and serious issues such as drug or alcohol use later.

TIPS FOR MAKING TIME

• Eat meals as a family and involve your daughter, when possible, in the preparation of a meal

• Do family chores together. Pack school bags, make lunches, sort the clean laundry, feed a pet, bake, gardening, shop and acknowledge your daughter’s help with tasks

• Watch a movie or show together and discuss this afterwards

• Play board or card games, make puzzles, or enjoy construction toys

• Plan an excursion to the theatre, museum, ballet or zoo. Work collaboratively on the plan and make sure you can get there using public transport.

• Get creative. Write a letter, make a card, paint, draw or do other craft activities. • Make a point of reading together each night, just three books per evening (more than 1000 books read together in one year!). Talk about your shared reading experience.

• Exercise. Take a walk, go for a bike ride, or even swim or surf.

• Take the opportunity for a quick snack and chat or go for a picnic

• Sing together, laugh and play.

Play dress-up, put on a puppet show, or try charades

• Put technology away – say no to phone calls, social media and TV when spending time with your daughter.

Make time with your daughter so that both of you can look forward to spending time together.

Spending quality time with your daughter is more important than the quantity of time. Keep things simple by connecting with your daughter in ways that fi t your lifestyle and relationship. Try to spend individual time with each child, if possible. These connections will have a lasting impact and provide the support and reassurance that your daughter needs.

For more on how Queenwood offers a rigorous academic curriculum within a balanced program of activities, visit www.queenwood.nsw.edu.au •

47 MANDALONG ROAD, MOSMAN 2088 02 8968 7711 ENROL@QUEENWOOD.NSW.EDU.AU INSTA: @QUEENWOODSCHOOL

WORDS: ANNI SANDWELL PHOTOGRAPHY: QUEENWOOD