by Janice Capasso

Created on: September 25, 2009   Last Updated: October 01, 2009

Children are remarkable little individuals. There is little in life more gratifying than watching a child grow from a little sponge, absorbing all the information the world throws at him, into a thriving adult ready to take on the world. As parents, we do our best to ensure that the early lessons our children learn are ones of love, respect and concern for others. After all, it is these lessons that will deliver them into that adult world armed with a solid foundation for success.

Seems like an overwhelming responsibility, but it starts with the simplest of tasks. Spending time with our children. From the littlest infant to the most precocious preschooler, right on up to that ever fearsome specter - the teenager - the greatest gift we can give is our time. It is the ultimate message of love to our children. More valuable than anything money can buy, it tells them we respect them as individuals and they can trust us to be there when they need us. The only caveat: That time must come with our undivided attention.

As busy as we parents are today, the time factor can be a guilt-inducing proposition. We struggle to balance work, bills, commitments and the day-to-day tasks that seem to rob us of any free time. We are exhausted at the end of the day. Where do we find the time for "quality time"? The beautiful thing is we can make any time "quality time".

Anyone who has simply sat back and watched a child at play quickly learns that they are quite easily entertained. Their vivid imaginations and natural curiosity are the ideal toolkit - no instructions necessary. Just sit down any time you have five minutes to spare and let the situation unfold. Or, simply start any task around the house, because as every parent knows, as soon as you begin any activity a child will come running - seemingly shot from cannon out of nowhere - to see just what you're up to. They want to be with you! They will present you with opportunities. You just need to know how to take advantage of them.

So, what can we as busy parents do to steal pockets of time and turn them into valuable moments with our children? Here are just a few ideas:

Everyday Tasks: Preparing dinner? Don't underestimate the desire of a toddler to help. They can carry or hold small items. They can stir, toss vegetables into a bowl, and tear bits of lettuce for a salad. They can pour some milk or plop a pat of butter into the mashed potatoes. Will they make a mess? Probably. So what! They can also help clean.

Dinner Time:

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