Kids need one-on-one time. Sometimes going out on an official “date” with each child isn’t optional. Hence, this idea emerged during a time of my life when I had six little kids running around and when my husband was gone to church meetings a couple nights a week. I found that a “Game Date” was a great opportunity to see how each child was really doing.
Game Date: I would be in a certain room and each child, individually, would come in and take their turn playing a game with me. No one else allowed! The bigger kids got assigned to tend the littlest ones, or we would do it during naptime. The child got to choose the game (if the game they chose was really a long one sometimes we would only play it for a certain amount of time). We would play the game while we visited, and then it would be someone else’s turn. Sometimes I asked serious questions and other times we only talked about the game. It opened the opportunity for trust to be built up and for the child to ask questions of me. “Game Dates” are simple yet effective. (Sundays were the best day for us to do this.)
I have noticed that when one of my children starts to get frustrated quickly or they just don’t seem happy and at peace, a “Game Date” is a helpful tool. They think it is fun. I think it is fun, too….but I also know that it is more than just fun!
May your children know you love them.
(The featured picture in this post came from pixabay.com)
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