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By Ahmad Tayub

It is important for parents to spend time with their children, not only when they are little, but also when they are teenagers. The support and influence of parents play a vital role in a child’s educational and personal development. The time a family spends together will build happy memories. Children will remember the time spent with their families even when they are grownups and married.  

During the lockdown, parents could seize the opportunity to spend quality time with their kids. This would help strengthen family bonds, nurture their kids’ creativity while their kids could learn a skill or two from their parents.  

Parents can spend time with their kids by helping them with their homework and also by doing house chores together. Family time could also be spent by doing simple yet fun activities together at home. 

Some activities that parents could do with their kids who are toddlers would be to read them a story before bedtime. This could trigger a child’s imagination and interest in reading. Reading stories could be interactive when parents and kids do some playacting or even make animated conversations or animal sounds together based on the story. 

Another activity that parents could do with their kids is colouring. Colouring is a fun activity and it provides a good opportunity for parents to chat and get to understand their kids better. Parents could also teach their children how to mix colours and also teach them the name of every colour. This activity is also therapeutic and relaxing for adults. 

Baking or cooking would also be a fun activity to do for bonding time. Parents could teach their kids how to cook or bake and also teach them about health and nutrition. When kids master the skill of cooking or baking, they will enjoy cooking for their families and helping out in the kitchen. Some kids might even  become chefs when they grow up. 

Children who are exposed to nature are happier, more relaxed and alert. Parents could also do some gardening with their kids such as planting flowers and vegetables in the backyard or even in pots. Kids could help water the plants or even take charge of growing and taking care of their own plant. 

Kids who often spend quality time with their families would grow up to be teenagers who are self-confident, possess good social skills and are often successful in their studies. They are less prone to be involved in violent behaviours and substance abuse. These kids would also grow up to be parents with good parenting and leadership skills.

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher