Change the World: Starting at Home

Our neighborhoods, communities, and towns could use a family make-over and this make-over, need to start in our own homes.

According to research, in 1965 parents spent an average of thirty hours a week with their children.

Guess how much that’s decreased? Parent’s today spend sixteen or less hours a week with their children — on average. Some families fall below this line.

Our kids are going to grow up thinking that time without parents is the norm — how will they parent? Make family a priority. Today.

Here are a few tips that can help your family to spend more time together:

Eat meals together. This seems like a given. But family mealtimes aren’t as typical as they once were. If you need tips on how to get started and cool stuff like conversation starter visit The Family Table.

Un-tech your car: I love music in my car. But when my son’s with me we usually turn it off and talk. I didn’t used to do this. One day I noticed that Cedar was yelling at me over the music. He wanted to talk; he always does. Do your kids? Turn off the stereo, get rid of the DVD, and put away the cell phone.

Lower your standards (about most stuff): How clean does your house need to be? Do the kids really need to be in bed by nine on the weekends? A game of Trouble or Candy Land is way more fun than sorting laundry or bed anyhow. If your kids suddenly lost you, how do you want to be remembered? As a stellar dusting machine or a fun person that your kids loved to hang out with.

Budget for more time, not more money: It’s not always possible to cut out an income, or even part of one. But you never know until you try. Can your family be a one income family. What would you need to give up? This move would strap some families on real bills but I know families who could give up two movies a week and one of their three cars and be able to afford to work less. Less work time equals more family time. If you can swing it; it’s something to consider.

For great ways to spend some active time with your family visit NIH, We Can.