Having worked with parents for over twenty years, we know just how quickly children grow up. But at what age does this typically happen in the UK?
We wanted to find out the last times that parents experience milestone moments, like reading a bedtime story, with their children. And our research showed that many of these milestones happen around the age of 7, with 81% of parents wishing they had more opportunities to cherish the special
moments they shared with their child when they were small.
With this in mind, we’ve put together our top tips for freeing up time so you can spend it more meaningfully with your children.
Tidy up a little but often – We know that a lot of parents would actually prefer a Sunday rest rather than a Sunday reset! And the easiest way to free up time on the weekend is to do a little bit every day. This could look like wiping the surfaces down after dinner, doing laundry while you work from home, encouraging your children to pick up their own toys, or getting them involved with cooking – from helping to prep vegetables to laying the table. If you have a larger family, it can also help to give everyone a small cleaning or tidying task that they can take ownership of, helping them feel included and proud of their achievements.
Go offline for games nights – Ditch the screens for one evening a week and bring out the board games, card games or puzzles instead. Going analogue is a great way to spend quality time together without phones, tablets, and TVs competing for everyone’s attention.
Dedicate a weeknight for each child – Give each child one dedicated evening where they get your undivided attention. This could be walking the dog, grabbing an ice cream, taking them to horse riding lessons or another hobby, or simply watching a film together. Just make sure to put your phone away and be fully present. You could also take a digital camera to their activity if you still want to be able to look back at their progress.
Use name stickers – There’s no need to spend hours sewing labels into every one of your child’s belongings to prevent them from going missing. Our name stickers are quick and easy to apply and they never fall off, freeing up hours of your time to spend in more meaningful ways.
Batch cook – The easiest way to get some time back in the kitchen is by cooking double quantities of meals and snacks. This doesn’t tend to take much longer than making fewer portions, but can make a huge difference, ensuring you have nutritious meals and snacks to hand when you’re in a rush midweek.
Encourage creativity through play – Let your child take the lead in what they want to do creatively, but do it with them. From painting, building LEGO, to collecting flowers or shells, show your child that you value their interests and that you want to connect with them while they play.
Leave messages – If work commitments crop up in the week and you find yourself unable to spend as much time with your child as you’d like, leave a short personal video or note for them to find. Children love surprises and it’s an easy way to show them you love and miss them in a way that they’ll appreciate.
Looking to spend more time with your children before they grow up? Explore our range of name stickers, which can be applied in just seconds.
