coordinate.
The possibilities for shared one-on-one fun are endless. Many
parents I’ve worked with over the years like to take one child out to
dinner on a school night while everyone else stays home. Going to a
movie, shopping, bike riding, or just going out for a drive in the car
are also positive activities to do together. One of the nice things about
getting out of the house is that no one can interrupt you. Your kids
will also like it if you turn off your cell phone while you’re out with
them.
One-on-one fun, though, does not have to entail going out, nor
does it have to involve spending money. Shared fun can come in little
bits and pieces during the day. Moments of fun can be shared and
enjoyed when you are talking, listening, expressing affection, or
telling jokes. Most children love being able to stay up twenty minutes
later on a school night every now and then to do something special
with Mom or Dad. That something might be reading, just talking or—
heaven forbid!—teaching a naive and inexperienced parent how to
play a video game.
The moral of this chapter? By all means, do things together with
the entire family, but make sure those times are as enjoyable as
possible. If whole-family activities are usually miserable experiences,
fix them! But whatever you do about whole-family fun, make sure
your days and weeks include regular one-on-one fun with each of your
children.
CHAPTER SUMMARY
One-on-One Time
The best parent-child bonding occurs during one-on-one fun times.
Why? For the kids, they have you all to themselves! And for you,
there’s absolutely no chance for sibling rivalry. Now there’s a
formula for success!