Features
The Gift of Time
Jinny Hopp, Human Development Specialist, Jasper County, University of Missouri Extension
“The best thing parents can spend on their children is time, not money." –Anonymous
An anonymous source is credited with a great deal of wisdom. However, the bit of information above is backed by current research. A report in the Child Development journal about research conducted with two- and three-year -old children shows that the quality of time a parent (especially fathers) spends with his or her children predicts the quality of the child’s language and cognitive development.
The Chicago Longitudinal Study, which began in
1967and is ongoing, has found that parental involvement
helps children’s succeed in school. Make plans to spend
time with the children in your life during this holiday
season. Instead of many expensive gifts, give your child
the gift of time. Some of our best memories are of
family traditions and rituals around the holidays.
Children who benefit from the gift of time make better
grades in school, are less likely to engage in risky
behaviors, and more likely to be competent problem
solvers. Besides, spending time with your child is fun!
Do you have certain things that you do each year to
get ready for the holidays? Cutting a fresh Christmas
tree from a farm; decorating the tree with family
members; visiting people who are shut in; making special
foods; reciting special stories? These events become
part of the sense of history that teaches your culture
and values to your growing child.
Parents and children can exchange coupons for gifts
of time with each other instead of material gifts. How
about coupons for walks in the park, a fishing trip,
reading or telling stories together, riding bicycles?
These activities foster closer parent and child
relationships and encourage the child to grow in healthy
ways.
Try some of these ideas or some of your own with your children this season. The results are worth the effort!
References:
Tamis-Lemonda, C.S., Shannon, J. D., Cabrera, N. J., &
Lamb, M. E. (2004). Fathers and mothers at play with
their 2- and 3-year-olds: Contributions to language and
cognitive development. Child Development, 75, 1806-1820.
Miedel, W. T., & Reynolds, A. J. (1999, April). Parent
Involvement in Elementary School and High-School
Success: Is There a Connection? Paper presented at the
biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child
Development.
Last Updated 05/05/2009
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