Parent & Child Date Nights

Spending quality time with your child is a powerful way to say, “I love you.”We lead busy lives and have busy schedules however we need to make time for our children. Just like you make time to hit the gym, watch your favorite show, grab dinner with friends, or spend time on your boat, you have to make time to check in with your children. Thechild rearing years are precious and they go by so fast. We only get our kids for a season and they’ll soon be adults leading their own lives. We need to be intentional about where we are going as parents and what kind of child we are aiming to send out into the world. Are we aiming to send out children who are confident, strong, generous, honest, friendly, compassionate, loving, hardworking, respectful, humble, grateful, patient, and forgiving? Or are we aiming to send out children who are dishonest, ungrateful, unkind, disrespectful, selfish, hostile, critical, insecure, unfair, nonworking, nonproducing, self-centered, rude children? Along with checking in daily, take each child out on a date just you and your son or daughter. The date does not have to be expensive. You can pack a picnic, eat, sit, talk and listen to your child. Afterwards throw a football or take a walk. Spending one on one time with your child makes them feel happy, loved, valued, and important. 20 Questions you need to ask your child: Do not accept “I don’t know.” “I don’t know” is not an answer. 1. What do you admire most about Mom and Dad? 2. What is the best thing about being a part of our family? 3. What is the hardest part about being part of our family? 4. What is your favorite meal that I make for you? Is there something new you would like me to make for you? 5. What is the happiest or best day of your life so far? 6. What does your perfect day look like? Describe it? 7. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? How can we as parents help you? 8. What makes you sad? What makes you cry? 9. What makes you angry? What makes you frustrated? 10. What does a good friend look like? What does a bad friend look like? 11. Do you know how much I love you? How do you know mom and dad love you? 12. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why? 13. What do you see for yourself in the future? What are your dreams? 14. What is the best part about being a sister or brother? What parts are difficult? 15. When are you or have you been most afraid? 16. If you could change one thing in our family what would you change? 17. What would you like mom or dad to do differently or more of? 18. Do I know you? What do I need to know about you? 19. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would you change and why? 20. What do you love about yourself? What if the best part about being you?