by Dawn Hawkins

Created on: March 04, 2009   Last Updated: March 05, 2009

Your children rely on you for everything in their lives. This includes learning the basic skills of human interaction. You are their first teacher and you should take that job very seriously. Our lives get so busy with work and other activities that we sometimes forget to pay attention to what is most important to us. Our children could use a little more attention from their parents. Learning to fulfill that need is just a few steps away.

Here are some suggestions that might help you give more of yourself to your children:

Take a Walk

Put on your tennis shoes and grab your child's hand. It only takes a few minutes to walk to the end of the street and back. That's enough time to show your child that you care about them. If you make it a part of your regular routine, your child will begin to look forward to their special time with you.

Read a Book

Children love to hear stories. Make a regular habit of reading to your child. Your child will never forget this special time. You will make cherished memories with your little one and they get your full attention. This is an easy activity to incorporate into the day/night. That is what made bedtime stories so famous.

Play a Game

Games are fun for everyone. There is nothing more special to a child than for his/her parent to play a game with him/her. This is a great way to teach your children the lessons of the game and to give them wonderful moments to carry with them. In the summertime, take it outside for a game of catch or to shoot some hoops. Couldn't everyone use a little outdoor time?

Go on a Road Trip

Every now and then pack the family in the car and head down the road. You don't have to have a particular place in mind. You can drive around to different spots to see where you land. Some ideas for fun road trips are going to the beach or to the park. It can be almost any kind of trip. Your kids will love getting some time away from the house and you might find you appreciate it as well.

Have a Conversation

This is something that you need to do every day. Have a conversation with your child. It doesn't matter how old they are. You can talk to an infant as well as you can a teenager. They all respond to conversation. This will lead to a healthier relationship with your children for the rest of your life.

Eat your meals together

There will be times that your family can't eat together. That shouldn't be an everyday thing though. Children are more apt to talk to you at the dinner table than any other time. It is important to have that family time together. Turn off the television and sit around the kitchen table. You will be amazed at how much your children will open up to you. This should be a long standing rule in your home.

In the end, it really does matter how much attention you pay to your children. They will, at times, stray from you. If you keep your attentions focused in the right direction, they will come back. You have nothing to lose by trying. You have everything to gain.

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