Quality family time can look a little different now than it did 20 years ago. However, no matter how families bond, there are many benefits to students spending time with family. Learn about the benefits of family time and how to use technology to connect.
The importance of spending quality time with family
Family time is all about bonding and sharing experiences. Quality family time gives children a feeling of belonging. They also develop traditions and routines that stand them in good stead for the future. However, the concept of family time is evolving and changing. Three or four decades ago, family time looked rather different than it does now. In the 1970s or 80s, families would spend time playing a board game or going for a bike ride together. Now, video games, watching movies, and streaming shows are common. However, this change doesn’t mean that family time is long gone. Technology can play a key part in quality family time today.
For example, playing online sports together can help children stay active while also enjoying fun playtime with their families. Interactive VR games are a great way for the whole family to have fun using technology together while developing thinking and communication skills.
Quality family time in the 21st century isn’t about completely banning digital tech. Rather, it means finding the right balance between technology and physical play. Of course, outdoor activities and child-led social play are still essential for developing emotional and social skills and positive mental health. However, passive, sedentary, and solitary play can also be beneficial. Finding creative ways to use tech within the family unit and imposing some limits on screen time is the answer.
How do children benefit from family time?
Family time activities can be many and varied. They may include playtime or quiet storytelling. They may come in the form of creative projects or exploring the great outdoors. They may also include tech-based activities, such as playing video games together or watching a movie as a family unit and then discussing it. Regardless of the form that family time takes, it offers a host of benefits.
Repeated positive connections between children and parents or caregivers foster secure attachments. This leads to better physical and mental well-being, which can improve a student’s academic performance and boost their contentment. Quality family time can help deter physical and mental health problems later in life. Those advantages mean that limiting passive digital screen time in favor of more active family pursuits could be highly beneficial.
Time spent with the family unit builds self-esteem in young people. Children who have strong family bonds have greater confidence in their own abilities. They also have stronger social skills thanks to the appreciation and love they receive from their parents or caregivers. This enables children to build their own positive relationships when they get older.
Quality family time also helps to nurture positive behavior in young people. When parents and caregivers participate in activities regularly with their kids, they can mentor them more effectively. This means they can promote good behavior while nipping problems in the bud at an early stage. This helps children to realize that they’re accountable for their own behavior in social settings. It goes without saying that this offers many advantages for young people later in their lives—they’ll develop the ability to behave appropriately around strangers or even in the workplace.
Taking time to be together as a family
Although modern life can be hectic, it’s clear that spending time together as a family unit is as important today as ever. While parents or caregivers and kids don’t need to spend every hour of the day with each other, regularly participating in joint activities is highly beneficial.
When students spend more time with their families, they benefit in many ways. They develop stronger family bonds, create positive memories, and learn appropriate behaviors. While physical playtime and outdoor activities remain a key element in family life, digital activities can now also play a part. Whether you’re playing Monopoly or a video game, the most important thing is to maintain social interaction between generations. When families strengthen their bonds, the advantages stretch beyond simply enjoying each other’s company.
By hanging out with their families more often, children of all ages reap the benefits. The youngest students improve their social, communication, and physical skills much more rapidly, while older children learn key lessons about life and boost their self-esteem. The mental and physical benefits for students extend into their future, helping them enjoy greater success and well-being later in life. And isn’t that what we all want for the next generation?
This article was adapted from a blog post initially developed by the education technology company Classcraft, which was acquired by HMH in 2023. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of HMH.
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