Spending quality time with children is essential for their healthy growth and development. Children may suffer from behavioural disorders if their parents do not spend enough of time with them. Let us take a look at some of the harmful effects of not spending quality time with children.“The best thing you can give your children is time.” – This is a saying most quoted by parents who in fact, do not get to spend too much time with their children. Today’s life is busier than we can imagine with parents juggling both home and work, and children being packed off to extra-curricular activities right after school.According to a study, most families spend just eight hours a week together on an average, whereas a weekend should consist of a minimum of two hours devoted to children. Moreover, we see that ‘family time’ may often end up in members watching TV in silence, busy reading or on phone out of sheer exhaustion. Such a phenomenon may amount of a total lack of parent-and-child bonding resulting in a number of behavioural problems and other insecurities which may affect a child into his or her adulthood years. In this articleBreakdown of Family BondsEmotional DistressAcademic PerformanceDependence on Social MediaNegative Behaviour1. Breakdown of Family BondsLack of a conversation may lead to erosion of family values such as empathy, shared hobbies, love and accommodation. When parents and children start leading separate lives, lots of secrets are left untold leading to damaged relationships in the family.Since parents are often too busy to go out on picnics, grandparents often do not get a chance to spend precious time with their grandchildren as well. Such kids totally depend on friends for trust which is not a bad thing in itself but this leaves with no realization of what a family truly comprises. This may also lead to confidence in strangers who may take advantage of such a child’s vulnerable position.2. Emotional DistressA child’s psychology is much more complex than it seems. When parents are absent from home, children have no other outlet of expressing their feelings about their day. They might get seriously hurt when their mother pushes them aside complaining of a busy day. Such children may not feel important and loved by their parents anymore and suffer from insecurity, lack of trust and an unstable self-esteem.3. Academic PerformanceA child’s academic performance depends upon her social and emotional well-being as well, which in turn depends on a parent’s involvement in their studies. Indian parents often send their children to coaching classes in younger classes as well since they themselves may be busy at work. However, research shows that children whose parents have guided them in primary classes, help more with their homework and have reasonably high expectations often go on to do well in life.4. Dependence on Social MediaChildren who are often deprived of proper attention from their parents are often more inclined towards virtual media and other forms of entertainment as a form of escapism from their loneliness. Such kids may spend their days on phones on end without any other form of physical or mental development. This may lead to lack of empathy, the ability to make small talk and listen and severe isolation.5. Negative BehaviourThough such effects may not be visible immediately, certain ways of coping up with loneliness and depression may turn out to be harmful for the child including aggression, theft and bullying to vent out their feelings. Such issues may begin at the age of three differing between boys and girls, and may be direct or indirect.Some simple ways of spending quality time with your children in the weekends may include cooking or baking together, working on homework, sports, watching a movie, going on a shopping trip or reading a book, to name a few. All of these are good recreational activities and will promise a good, strong and true bond with your children so that they can confide in you whenever they want.What are the benefits of spending quality time with children? How can working parents spend quality time with children? Which activities can be carried out by parents to spend quality time with children? Discuss here.
Spending quality time with children is essential for their healthy growth and development. Children may suffer from behavioural disorders if their parents do not spend enough of time with them. Let us take a look at some of the harmful effects of not spending quality time with children.“The best thing you can give your children is time.” – This is a saying most quoted by parents who in fact, do not get to spend too much time with their children. Today’s life is busier than we can imagine with parents juggling both home and work, and children being packed off to extra-curricular activities right after school.
According to a study, most families spend just eight hours a week together on an average, whereas a weekend should consist of a minimum of two hours devoted to children. Moreover, we see that ‘
family time’ may often end up in members watching TV in silence, busy reading or on phone out of sheer exhaustion. Such a phenomenon may amount of a total lack of parent-and-child bonding resulting in a number of
behavioural problems and other insecurities which may affect a child into his or her adulthood years.
1. Breakdown of Family Bonds
Lack of a conversation may lead to erosion of family values such as empathy, shared hobbies, love and accommodation. When parents and children start leading separate lives, lots of secrets are left untold leading to damaged relationships in the family.
Since parents are often too busy to go out on picnics, grandparents often do not get a chance to spend precious time with their grandchildren as well. Such kids totally depend on friends for trust which is not a bad thing in itself but this leaves with no realization of what a family truly comprises. This may also lead to confidence in strangers who may take advantage of such a child’s vulnerable position.
2. Emotional Distress
A child’s psychology is much more complex than it seems. When parents are absent from home, children have no other outlet of expressing their feelings about their day. They might get seriously hurt when their mother pushes them aside complaining of a busy day. Such children may not feel important and loved by their parents anymore and suffer from insecurity, lack of trust and an unstable self-esteem.
A child’s academic performance depends upon her social and
emotional well-being as well, which in turn depends on a parent’s involvement in their studies. Indian parents often send their children to coaching classes in younger classes as well since they themselves may be busy at work. However, research shows that children whose parents have guided them in primary classes, help more with their homework and have reasonably high expectations often go on to do well in life.
Children who are often deprived of proper attention from their parents are often more inclined towards virtual media and other forms of entertainment as a form of escapism from their loneliness. Such kids may spend their days on phones on end without any other form of physical or mental development. This may lead to lack of empathy, the ability to make small talk and listen and severe isolation.
5. Negative Behaviour
Though such effects may not be visible immediately, certain ways of coping up with loneliness and
depression may turn out to be harmful for the child including aggression, theft and bullying to vent out their feelings. Such issues may begin at the age of three differing between boys and girls, and may be direct or indirect.
Some simple ways of
spending quality time with your children in the weekends may include cooking or baking together, working on homework, sports, watching a movie, going on a shopping trip or reading a book, to name a few. All of these are good recreational activities and will promise a good, strong and true bond with your children so that they can confide in you whenever they want.
What are the benefits of spending quality time with children? How can working parents spend quality time with children? Which activities can be carried out by parents to spend quality time with children? Discuss here.
