Parenting is never a cake walk for anyone and once you become a parent is a 20 year project if not less. Also, the early years, 0 to 5 are the major and most significant years for a child. We are living in the times when mostly both the parents work and spending quality time with the child is a problem that every other working parent faces. Dr. Richa Ahuja, a clinical psychologist at the Max super speciality hospital says that she has observed that most of the parents are not able to spend quality or quantity time with their kids. The reason is that most of them work for long hours. Once back they are so tired, stressed and drained out that, managing the kids or their tantrums. They want to be at peace and hence are either hooked to their gadgets or television, either as a family together or alone. The idea is to keep peace at home and relax. Sometimes kids are also soft targets for parents. Parents tend to vent out their anger at office on kids at home. Many a times children wants their parent to play with them or spend time with them, but due to the stress of work caused throughout the day parents aren’t able to do so.
Watching too much of TV or exposure to electronic gadgets does affect the child’s developmental behaviour in a negative way. Many parents do understand that knowingly or unknowingly they are the ones responsible for too much exposure to gadgets to their children. Many feel guilty for not able to spend time with the child and even end up buying expensive gifts for their kids.
Here are a few tips for working parents on managing your child and work responsibility together.
Communication is the Key – Communication can work very well for you and your partner when it comes to managing your child. For example rather than playing the blame game, a good idea is to take turns to do things. For example if it’s about dropping the child to school, attending PTM, to name a few. This way one of the partners does not feel loaded, particularly when both parents are working.
No Work at home please – Most of us tend to work at home also besides working at office. Avoid making this a habit. Understand that you already are compromising on your child’s well deserved time when you both are working. The idea is to make optimum use of your available time at home. Listen to your child, when the child is talking to you. You may not be aware but not listening to your child could result in low confidence or self-esteem of your child.
Spend time with family – Try spending quality time with your child as a family. Indulge in playing games, doing activities, going for a walk or hike with your family. This helps strengthen up the bond as a family. Particularly on weekends try to engage with your child and rather than showering them with gifts try to teach them to make efforts to earn them.
Have Dinner together – Let dinner time be family time every single day. Cut of yourselves from gadgets and television while on the dinner table and eat together. It’s very aptly said that the family that dines together stays together.
Above all, parents need to understand that it’s not presents that a child seeks from parents, its presence more so. Hence, workout between the both of you as parents how to share your responsibility and make the most out of the time available on hand, for your betterment of your child.
*Sourced from the Internet
