Planning quality time usually never works, it just happens as long as you are there to let it happen. I try to include my son in as many projects as I can. Even though he may not be skilled enough to accomplish many of the tasks we set out to do, he still gets the satisfaction of being the helping hand in seeing the finished product. The quality time extends itself when we can later discuss what happened that day or how the project turned out.

Even my wife includes him when making pizzas for a big party and those are the best times when conversations seem to be about anything and everything. Since I don't have any daughters I can heavily relate to spending quality time with my son.

I have found out that the simplest things are usually the most memorable. My son loves playing video games and I am just as excited to play most of them, but when we get out the cards or a board game, that's when most of the laughter and togetherness makes it's appearance. It just seems like we engage in better conversation and kidding one another when a non-electronic game is played.

My son joined Cub Scouts and with that comes the pinewood derby. We have built 3 cars since he has joined and all 3 were first place winners at our pack races. Two out of the three went on to take 2nd and 3rd place at the big 100 car council races. I can't tell you how much fun we have had building those cars and watching them race down that track. Each year he has become more involved in the process of making each car go faster. Because of the involvement in making the cars we have spent hours of quality time.

I always try to come up with something that would be super fun to do but might be out of the ordinary. For instance I teach Karate and we hold Karate camps. At the last one (which we called a Boot Camp) we built forts for our Water Wars portion of the camp. Because it was something that was going to be seen by other kids he got really interested in helping with the woodworking portion. It was his idea to get started each day to continue building. Not only were we spending quality time but also learning how to properly use tools and it was fun.

Even if you have a daughter I'm sure you can find something that you could build together even if it's just a 3-D puzzle, but building things together not only creates quality time but also builds bonding time.

Quality time comes in many forms such as reading books together, taking bike rides, flying kites, building a tree house, starting a tradition as simple as having homemade milk shakes every Sunday or a game night. I think most child hood memories come from traditions that were simple. Kids need and like things that they can count on that reminds them of the great times they had with their parents. Being a father is a great privilege to be able to shape a child's life and provide memories that are unforgettable! As the slogan says, "Just Do It" and quality time will appear where you may not have thought possible.

Learn more about this author, Mike Webb.
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