Ten Ideas to Spend One-on-One Time with Your Child

While participating in activities as a family is important, it is also rewarding to spend time with each of your children individually. Here are ten ideas for making the most of one-on-one time with your child.

1. Let your child choose what he or she would like to play, whether it's a board game, catch in the backyard, a dress-up tea party or Legos.

2. Go outside together. Take a walk, ride bikes, jump rope, catch frogs or go on a picnic. You can burn calories and bond with your child at the same time!

3. Take her out for breakfast, lunch or ice cream - just the two of you.

4. Tackle a project together; plant some flowers or vegetables, wash the car or clean the playroom. Build a model car or create an art project that he can keep.

5. Shop for something just for that child. It doesn't have to be expensive; a trip to the dollar store or a visit to the dollar section of Target or a craft store can provide plenty of choices.

6. Set aside a weekly time to talk. I designate one night a week for each of my daughters and I to spend ten minutes alone talking about any subject they wish.

7. Read a book. Find a quiet corner during a time when other siblings are occupied and read a book or a chapter of a longer book together.

8. Serve someone as a team. Take one child with you when you deliver a meal to a new mother or drop off donations at a neighborhood shelter.

9. Bake a favorite treat with your son or daughter, allowing them to do as much of the preparation as possible.

10. Pray together. If your child is struggling in some area or has just received an unexpected blessing, take time to be alone with that child to either ask God for His help or thank Him for His goodness.

Build a close relationship with each of your children by designating some time for just the two of you to do something together!