Written by monthly contributor, Jenn Thorson from The Purposeful Mom.

Whether it’s the beginning of a new school year, a new baby or another big change around your home, it can be hard to fit in one on one time with multiple children.

This subject has been on my mind a lot lately as we are preparing to welcome our fourth baby in just a couple of weeks! With each new child, I become worried that my other kids will feel neglected or jealous. I want to share with you three ways I realistically find one on one time with each of my children during busy seasons of life.

Reading to My Children

I can’t think of anything better than snuggling together and reading with my kids! We started reading to each of them when they were babies and they still love it to this day! My oldest is 7 and so sometimes he will just read next to me and tell me funny things in the books. My 5 year old is read to on her own before naptime (when the 2 year old is already sleeping). The 2 year old gets his special time before bed when Dad is tucking in his older siblings. If you can work certain times into your day or week where each child can be read to individually it is a great way to connect with them, ask them questions and learn more about what’s on their little minds!

Using Naptime to Interact with Older Children

Now that my 7 year old has outgrown his naptime {and the 5 year old is quickly on her way to doing the same}, I’m finding more open doors for spending time with each of my children on their own. This is a fairly short time during the day that we do one-on-one time because we still have quiet time for those who don’t nap too!

I use this opportunity to talk to the 7 year old as he schools me on random science facts or do a simple craft with my 5 year old, who is obsessed with coloring and gluing. This doesn’t happen every single day but I am trying to be more intentional with my time, knowing that the days are long, but the years are short!

Find an Activity They Like and Do it With Them!

I know our favorite thing as moms isn’t to spend eons playing with plastic dolls or Matchbox cars, but it’s still important that we take time to engage our children’s interests and encourage their imagination.

A dear friend and I were talking once about the fact that the only thing we wish was different about our childhoods was that our moms had had time to just play with us more often. They didn’t do it on purpose, both of our mothers were very busy taking care of their households, but when my daughter asks me to set up her dollhouse or have a tea party with her for the sixteenth time, I am reminded of that conversation with my friend. And so I do it, because even though it’s not exciting for me, it is for her! I am showing my children that I value their interests and that they are important to me!

The way I make this work as one-on-one time is to assign the other two children to an activity or ask them to play with each other while I’m spending the few minutes by myself with the third child. {When the fourth one comes along, that will add another dynamic, I’m sure!}

I obviously can’t tell you exactly what one-on-one time is going to look like for your family: the amount of children you have, the way your day goes and your children’s current ages will determine what you can do to make special memories with each of your kids. It isn’t an absolute must to do this, so don’t feel bad if you can’t set aside chunks of time for every child every day!

Whatever you do, I hope you will cherish these fleeting moments with your little ones and take time to nurture their hearts and teach them character with the strength and patience of the Lord to guide you!

How do you fit in one-on-one time with your children?

 

Jenn is a daughter of the King, happily married to her college sweetheart and mom to three wonderfully spunky children. She spends her time taking care of her home and family, coaching a speech team, blogging and dreaming up more ideas than there are hours in the day. She shares her thoughts on staying debt free, raising children of character and living a life of intentional faith one day at a time at The Purposeful Mom.Jenn is also the author of God’s Word in My Heart: A Scripture Learning Guide with Memory Verses.