DADS ENCOURAGED TO SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH THEIR KIDS

With Father’s Day just around the corner, Hunter Interrelate is encouraging dads to spend quality time with their children.

Head of Research and Service Development, Matt Stubbs, says it’s not about the amount of time spent, but rather the quality of that time.

“Spending 10 quality minutes with your children when you can give them your full attention creates a stronger bond than if you sit in the same room using a device while they watch television for an hour,” he said.

Interrelate has released five tips for helping dads improve their relationships:

1. Put down any devices when your child is telling you about their day
Five minutes undivided attention is better than sixty minutes of divided attention. Children learn their worth by how their parents respond to them.

2. Play with them
Spending time playing outside is great. ‘Rough and tumble play’ (i.e. having a tackle and wrestle) has been shown to not only build relationships between dads and their kids; it also increases the development of young brains! Equally, playing video games alongside an older child can be a way to connect and relate as you have side-by-side conversations.

3. Make time for each child individually
Each child is unique and will like different things. Engage and join with your children on things that are important to them and stuff they like to do.

4. Read to them
You are not only teaching them a vitally important skill, it’s also lots of fun. It’s great when you can share something this wonderful with your child.

5. Give them hugs
Show your children how much you love them; this not only shows kids that dads show affection and are in touch with their feelings; it also shows children that they are loveable!