As the long leisurely days of summer fade away, children are headed back to school and with that, the return of structure and after-school activities.
As parents, we understand the importance of time spent together as a family, but when schedules get crazy and activities ramp up, finding time for quality time can be challenging. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, half of all lifetime cases of mental health conditions start by age 14, which is why building and maintaining a strong family connection, especially when time is crunched, is essential.
“By making intentional efforts to spend quality time as a family, parents can communicate to their children that their needs, opinions, and presence matters,” shared Paige Brunett, LCSW, Behavioral Health Provider at SSM health Monroe Clinic Medical Group. “When kids feel safe and heard, they are more likely to open up to their caregivers about difficult things such as struggles with mental health.”
Experts at SSM Health recommend these three ideas to stay connected when things get busy:
Schedule family time: This one may seem counterintuitive — The goal is for more free time, not less! But if family time is approached as a set activity, it’s more likely to happen. Brainstorm as a family some different activities you would like to do together. From a simple game night to a visit to a pumpkin patch, plan ahead to make time and memories with your family.
Put the devices down: As great as technology is, the constant pings from emails and texts can evolve into a constant distraction. Make a conscious effort to be present when spending time as a family. Even if it’s just for a short period of time, taking a break to be in the moment and show your child that they have your attention is important for both their mental health and yours.
Be consistent: Looking to learn more about who is in your child’s life or what they’re experiencing day-to-day? Set the expectation of a daily check-in to understand how they’re doing. From three new things they learned each day, to their daily “high” and daily “low”, making time to have a consistent check-in will help both you and your child feel connected. This can be built into a bedtime routine, in the car on the way to or from an activity, around the dinner table, or whenever works best with your schedule.
Mental health is just as important as physical health. Focusing on and being accessible to your child will help build a foundation of trust and show them you care. Take time to make your family a priority.
— Paige Burnett, LCSW, is a behavioral health provider with SSM Health Monroe.
