We need to spend quality time with our children.

I suspect it is a bit daunting to hear the words ‘spend quality time with your kids’. What it means is that the quality of the time spent is more important than how much--the amount--of time spent.

This is all fine and good but it can be a bit intimidating. What constitutes Q time?

It can leave an inadequate taste in your mouth if you feel you lack the qualities that make for quality parenting time! Maybe you have to be particularly bright to deliver Q time? Or maybe artistic –-or creative—or have special resources! The expectation can be endless.

Take a deep relaxing breath. It’s okay. You don’t have to be SUPER PARENT in order to deliver Q. Time. Although the meaning may have gotten a bit blurred with over-use, what is the bottom line is that Q time means attentiveness. If you are attentive, pay attention, give your full attention, focus on your child, you are giving them Q. time.

The message given is that the child is significant—important enough for Mom or Dad to take a few minutes and focus solely on him. Whatever you are doing with your child—be it some elaborate, creative project or simply picking up toys together –the message the child should be getting is, “Hey, I am important! I am loved.”

An example of not being attentive is the parent who starts an activity with his child and then reads the newspaper as the child continues in the same room—but basically alone. Or the parent, who while playing a game with her child, answers the phone and continues to talk while playing. To spend Q time, a parent needs to FOCUS on the child not the periphery.

There are many kinds of activities that you can do with your child.