Juggling your work schedule and spending family time together  can be very challenging. But it is very important to keep a balance on everything and make some time for quality bonding and memories the whole family will cherish forever. Take note of what Barbara Bush once said, “At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, not winning one more verdict, or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a friend, a child, a parent.”

February is mostly recognized for celebrating Valentine’s Day. And while we’re on it, we’ve created a list of Valentine’s Day gift recommendations  you can give for your loved ones that you might want to check. The month of February is also a very special month for being the only month that has a length of fewer than 30 days. A very special month that is often associated with love and family which makes it perfect to spend some quality bonding with your kids and create unforgettable memories. In this blog post, we will give you information about what is family bonding time, what makes family time important, how long should family time last, and some ways to spend family time with your kids!

 

What is family bonding time?

Family bonding time is as simple as the quality bonding that you spend with your family. It is a precious opportunity to engage in activities that the whole family love and this also helps strengthen the bond with your loved ones. It can be going on picnics, watching movies, having meals together, helping each other out, playing board games, or any other popular indoor activities here in the Philippines. Family time also provides a platform for family members to interact, get to know each other more, understand one another, and form a deeper relationship. 

 

Why is family time important?

 

Family time is very important for several reasons:

• Strengthen relationships - Family time helps kids strengthen relationships and have meaningful relationships not just within the family but also outside the family circle such as with their friends, teachers, and elders. This improves communication, lessens conflict, and increases feelings of love and support. You’ll notice that how you nurture your child will also reflect on how they interact with their playmates, school teachers, and even with their interactive and cool toys  during playtime. The more family time, the more you can show or portray ways to strengthen relationships. 
• Promotes Mental Health - Spending time with your loved ones can have a big positive impact on your mental health. It helps to reduce stress, and anxiety levels, and also improves the overall well-being of a person. To prove this, research published in the Annals of Behavioral Medicine  showed that individuals who talked about challenging experiences in their life had a decrease in pulse rate and blood pressure when they had the support of a friend. Having a load of things to do at work and family responsibilities at the same time can be very stressful. However, during family time, you can have someone to talk to about those problems and you’ll have a good support system for one another. Sharing tough times with your family can also be a big relief that creates unity, trust, and belongingness.
• Encourages Bonding - Having family time allows every member of the family to share their experiences, bond, and create memories which help to keep the family together. Always remember that your kids have to feel secure and safe inside their own homes. Allow your kid to speak up, tell their stories, and make them realize that you are always by their side no matter what happens. Some kids find it hard to open up to their parents because they feel like their parents won’t care as the thought that their parents are always busy with their work comes first in their minds. But if you sit and talk with them every day, this will allow them to feel close to you and eventually open up. As you spend some quality bonding together, it is also the perfect time to show your affection and appreciation to your kids. No matter how big or small the achievement is, it is important to show them how proud you are. This will help them to be more confident about themselves. Also, according to research,  spending time together can have a huge impact on your kid’s academic success. 
• Teaches Values -  The more time you spend with your family, the more opportunity you can have to teach important values, beliefs, and life lessons to your kids. This also allows you to have a deeper relationship with them and give advice that will help to stay them away from bad habits they might see from other people. Kids can learn very fast by observing and imitating what they see from older people so it is important to keep a close eye on them and give advice as early as you saw them engaging in things that aren’t right. 
• Improves Physical Health - Of course, family time can just be sitting, playing board games, and talking to each other. But it can also be physical activities such as going on a ride with bikes and scooters, going on a vacation, or going for a swim when summer starts in the Philippines. These kinds of physical activities with your family members help to improve overall physical health, increase energy levels, and promote a healthier lifestyle. 
• Offers Quality Time - Spending time with the family provides a break from the distractions and responsibilities of everyday life, providing an opportunity for meaningful and cherished moments with loved ones. Family time also keeps the family united. The longer family time, the more you will be able to get to know each other, understand each other’s likes and dislikes, and resolve conflicts inside or outside the family. This quality bonding allows each other to open up about whatever problem makes them worried which provides a safe space for emotions. 

There are so many benefits you can get from spending time with your family, making it necessary to be part of every parent’s time. But considering your hectic schedule, you might be asking now how long should family time last. Should it take the whole day, or just have a 10-minute meal time with them and that’s it? Read on to know how long should family time last.

 

How long should family time last?

 

A good 1-2 hours a day is the ideal time you can spend with your family during weekdays and four to five hours during the weekends. But of course, if you could go beyond these hours and have family time as often as you can, that is also highly recommended! 

An hour or two a day with your family would be good as long as it has to be what we call quality bonding. Remember, quality over quantity. Would you rather have alone time with your kid for 24 hours but both of you are busy using your own cell phones or have an hour together playing, laughing, and making memories together? Your choice takes us to our next advice which is to remember that you are not doing family time just for the sake of it. You must be creating amazing memories with your kids. To do that, set aside everything. That means no office work, no smartphones, or anything that might disturb your family time. So, what will it be? 

What are some ways to spend family time with kids?

 

 

There are so many ways you can spend family bonding time with your family. But here, we’ll focus more on how you can spend family time with your kids and that is through their favorite playtime. Using toys can actually be a fun and engaging way to spend quality bonding and create amazing memories. 

 

Here are our top 6 ideas for using toys to spend time with your family: 

 

• Board Games - Board games are one of the most classic games you can play with your family members. It can just be the two of you, the whole family, or even invite some friends over, depending on the kind of board game that you have. Games like chess, jumbling tower, and scrabble are some of the perfect board games you can play with your family. 
• Dolls and Action Figures - If you would like to develop your kid’s creativity and imagination, imaginative play with dolls and action figures is the way to spark those skills. You can help them create fun scenarios and adventures together.
• Outdoor Toys - Family time can also go outdoors by playing with some outdoor toys which also provide an enjoyable way for families to spend time together. It can be kites, hula hoops, bikes, scooters, and more! We highly recommend this because it is also a great opportunity for the family to do some exercise together. 
• Arts and Crafts - Unleash your kids’ hidden creative talents by allowing them to play with some art and crafts sets. Did you know that doing arts and crafts for kids is essential to improve their fine motor skills? As they regularly use the muscles in their hands, wrists, and fingers, it also enhances their strength which will help to make other tasks easier such as writing! 
• Building Toys - Mega Bloks and Qman are the perfect examples of building toys. These kinds of toys allow every member of the family to be part of building something creative and imaginative. It can be a house, a building, a car, or anything you could imagine. This can be a really fun and engaging way to spend time together.
• Puzzle Sets - If you would like to do something challenging and fun at the same time, solving some jigsaw puzzles together is your way to go to spend time together. To make it more fun for your kids, you can get puzzle pieces to solve that have a picture of the character that they love!

 

To conclude, family time is indeed a crucial aspect of strengthening the bond between family members and promoting overall well-being. We know that it isn’t easy to balance your job duties and family responsibilities but scheduling family time should always be a priority for all families. If you find it difficult to plan an outdoor activity, spending a good 1-2 hours each day playing with your children and their toys is a good option. It may be done indoors, making it a fun and engaging approach to strengthening family ties. For the ideal family time, it's crucial to select the toy that matches the interests, hobbies, and ages of each member of your family.

And that’s how you spend quality bonding and making memories with your kids and family members! If you did one of these suggestions, please take a picture and tag us: @kidscompanyph!  

 

Don’t forget to check our ongoing toy and baby items promotions this month. Happy shopping!