In a fast-paced society like Singapore, juggling professional and familial commitments can be challenging. Finding time to bond with your school-going child outside of weekends can seem next to impossible. At MindSpace, we are believers in the magic of family bonding time. That’s why we always strive to keep evenings and weekends free, so that children can use that time to bond with their parents. After all, family bonding time is integral for your child’s development and may even have an impact on their overall happiness and potential in the future.
What Does Family Bonding Time Look Like?
The term “family bonding time” conjures up images of family picnics in the park, barbecues by the beach and going out for a special meal together. But restful bonding time is different, by which a family can spend some quiet time together to connect. This may happen after dinner, when everyone catches up with each other while cleaning up together. Or it may be a scheduled session, on Saturday afternoons, for example. Some families may even decide to put aside all electronic devices like phones and tablets during their bonding time, thereby eliminating all unnecessary distractions.
Spending time away from screens allows everyone to focus on communicating with each other, forging closer ties that encourage children to build a strong sense of self, contributing to better mental health in the long run. It is through repeated acts of intention like these that stronger bonds can be made.
Activities For Family Bonding That Works For Your Family
Every family has their preferred way of spending time together. Roller-blading in a park on a lazy Sunday evening might be perfect for one family, while another may prefer to simply munch on popcorn while watching Disney classics together. Since you already know that parental involvement is key to your child’s development, you should prioritise activities for family bonding.
Some family bonding activities you can do together include:
- Cycling together in a park – Cycling together can be a rewarding experience for all involved. Aside from being a healthy activity that engages children’s motor skills and learning development, it can also be a lot of fun. Your child will remember the moment when they first had the training wheels taken off their bicycles, and successfully rode off into the distance without falling!
- Art therapy – Whether it’s beading or watercolour painting, art therapy can be a valuable way to spend structured time together. You and your spouse can demonstrate how to perform the basics of the activity, and then give your child the freedom to explore it on their own. Aside from helping your child express their emotions through creating art, this can also stimulate their fine motor skills. What’s more, you’ll always have a keepsake at the end of each session to remind you of what your child has created with their own hands.
- Preparing a meal together – Making a meal with your child and your spouse can be a fantastic way to spend some quality family time. Meal preparation consists of many small tasks, which may be effective for helping your child to build a sense of accomplishment. Younger children can assist with simpler tasks, such as plucking greens or stirring mixtures. Older children can help to dice ingredients. The whole process will help your child build confidence as they see the results of their efforts and then get to taste them at the end of the session!
While you enjoy your family bonding time, remember to use positive affirmations with your child, whether verbal or physical in nature. Outside of scheduled family activities, it is also important to have regular check-ins with your child. Focusing on communication will help you understand your child better and vice versa.
Developing The Champion Mindset
MindSpace’s student care centres inoculate children with the Champion mindset that will serve them well in the years to come. Your child will become an active participant in their own learning, under our programme that uses research-backed methods to encourage active understanding, storage, recall and application.
Your child will benefit from after-school enrichment programmes that will help them develop their communication and public speaking skills and teach them new ways to solve social and academic problems. We’ll also help them to build a strong foundation for learning, to lay the groundwork for their mastery in various academic subjects like English, Maths, Science and Chinese.
Strengthening Your Family By Supporting Your Child’s Needs
At MindSpace, our conveniently-located student care centres in Singapore are fully outfitted with state-of-the-art facilities for conducive and comfortable after-school activities. Our student care services for primary school children will not only engage their academic skills, but also let them develop their social skills in a safe and supportive environment.
Want to find out more about our student care services? Or maybe you have questions about our after school or weekend enrichment programmes? Book a visit with us, or contact us over the phone and we’ll be in touch to answer all of your questions.