How to Squeeze Quality Time with Your Children into a Day of Shopping

All of us are busy shopping, paying bills and commuting during the week. We all want to spend more time doing fun activities with our younger children. Play dates might not line up with your schedule, and your child wants someone new to play with. There are some easy ways to tackle the things on your to-do list and keep your children happy.

Indoor playgrounds

The newest trend in all major shopping malls is to have a free indoor play area. Indoor playgrounds are a great place for toddlers and young elementary aged children to safely play. When entering the mall look at the directory or visit the information counter. Your local mall may have been updated. Even if you visit the mall regularly, an update may have been made in an area of the mall with less traffic.

New playmates

There are always new children to play with. These areas usually all have comfortable seating, and give you a great view to keep an eye on your child. If you are afraid your child will run off, sit closer to the exit.

Cubby holes are provided to keep your child's shoes out of the way during their play session. If you have shopping to do in the mall this is a great place to stop at some point during your shopping. Use this time to catch up and listen to your ipod. Call a friend you have been meaning to speak with. Any activity that does not require you to take your visual focus off your child.

Restaurant play-lands

If you are too busy to stop in the mall because you need to eat, pull over to your favorite fast food restaurant. Fast food restaurants like Burger King and McDonald's are updating their new restaurants using the principles of feng shui to encourage people to stay longer. In the back of some of the restaurants there are new indoor play areas. All of the play areas that I have visited were very clean. If the outside of the establishment is dirty and unkempt, the playground also is probably not up your standards.

Adventure

Children of all ages love an adventure or challenge. Why not give your child tasks to keep them busy. In the grocery store if your child can read, hand them the list. Have an older child in charge of selecting the items off the shelves. Another child can keep a tab on the calculator. Someone can hand the cashier the coupons, savings card, or tip the bagger. Engage their brains so that boring activities help their understanding of the world.

After a busy day of shopping or doing important errands choosing to include a fun activity with your children is important. Fifteen minutes of time spent talking with your child, or letting them have fun is time well spent. Always be on the lookout for ways to include your children in all your daily activities.