GIVE KIDS THE GIFT OF YOUR TIME

GIVE KIDS THE GIFT OF YOUR TIME

"Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

Yesterday I shared nine tips on parenting from Pat Williams' new book WHAT ARE YOU LIVING FOR? The first tip is GIVE KIDS THE GIFT OF YOUR TIME. (Regal Books)

Under this point Pat Shares an expanded list of ideas by Bryan Davis, director of All-Pro Dad. Here is the list:

1. Commit to a family mealtime each day.

2. Write your children's activities into your schedule book -- in ink!

3. Identify one thing on your weekly schedule that you can do without and replace it with "kid time."

4. Take one of your children along when you run errands.

5. Volunteer to participate in a regularly scheduled child activity, such as coaching a softball team or helping out with a school activity.

6. Identify one children's show on TV that you secretly like to watch and make it a point of watching it with your child.

7. Develop an interest in a hobby you and your child can enjoy together.

8. If you work requires that you travel, take one of your children with you when your business trip can be expended into a long weekend.

9. If your schedule is flexible, start your workday earlier so that you can get home earlier in the afternoon to be with your family.

10. Leave your work, cellular phone and pager at home when you go on family vacations and outings.

I think that is a very practical list for us Dads and Grandads! What do you think? Maybe you have some other items to share with us. Let me hear from you. -- Bill Welte is President and CEO of America's KESWICK

God's WORD for YOU: Proverbs 9, Genesis 23-24; Matthew 7

Great Quote: Kids need to know that we mean what we say and say what we mean, whether its a promise to take them to Disney World or a promise to ground them if they break a curfew. -- Pat Williams