The 5 Magic Hours: how to connect with your kids every day

The 5 Magic Hours: how to connect with your kids every day




Excerpts:

Without further ado, here are the 5 things you can do to connect with your children:

1. Partings – Don’t leave in the morning, or drop them off, until you know one interesting thing coming up in your child’s or teen’s day (2 minutes x 5 days a week = 10 minutes a week)

2. Reunions – Take 10 minutes a day (per child) to talk about their day (1 hr and 40 min a week)

3. Admiration and Appreciation – Find some way to genuinely communicate affection and appreciation to your children or teen every day, for 5 minutes a day, 7 days a week (35 minutes

4. Affection – Kiss, hug, hold, tickle, or play with your kids every day, always include a good night kiss, and resolve any anger before sending your child or teen to bed; 5 minutes a day, 7 days a week (35 minutes)

5. Family Time – set aside 2 hours of uninterrupted family time each week; this can be your family meeting, game night, hike, etc but it CAN NOT include video games, movies, TV or phone calls (these dramatically reduce interaction, which is the opposite of your goal)


Are you wondering how to fit these into your day? Partings can easily be done in the car or at the breakfast table. Reunions can also be done while driving home or around the dinner table. We have a 2 best/1 worst time at dinner every evening where each person gets time to talk about the worst thing that happened to them during the day, followed by the two best. This is also a great time to admire and appreciate your kids for handling bad things well or achieving something positive. There is a bonus for family dinner time, too! Research has been conducted to determine what National Merit Scholars (the most academically successful students in our country) have in common. National Merit Scholars come from varying races, socioeconomic classes, regions, and schools. The only common thread found, and it was found with EVERY National Merit Scholar, was a daily, uninterrupted family dinner hour that was full of conversation (Levy, 1996).

Read full Post: http://www.examiner.com/x-11512-Anchorage-Parenting-Examiner~y2009m6d17-The-5-Magic-Hours-how-to-connect-with-your-kids-every-day

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This posting was made my Jim Jacobs, President & CEO of Jacobs Executive Advisors. Jim also serves as Leader of Jacobs Advisors' Insurance Practice.