Plan your weekends
Being a single parent can be extremely challenging and weekends alone with your children can be overwhelming.
Plan your weekends with your children carefully to get the most out of your time together, but remember that what your children want most is your time and attention – expensive outings and frantic activities don’t always make the best quality time together.
The most important thing to remember is that you need to set the routine for the weekends. Routine creates stability and your children will need these qualities to make them feel secure. You want the weekend to be balanced.
Also, be consistent in your actions. For example, if you have the kids starting at 5pm Friday afternoon then set a consistent time for each Friday that you are getting them. The kids will become comfortable with this, and will know when to expect you. If you just tell them that you will be picking them up sometime after five, this leaves them up in the air, and they may tend to become insecure and feeling miserable. This is not the way you want to start the weekend.
If you don't plan for the weekend, you could very well be headed for disaster. Here are some basic activities that you and your children can do together that will not cost you an arm or a leg.
When you're planning activities, think carefully about your child's interests and what would be most meaningful for him. Also, ask your kid’s input on some specific activities.
- Take your kids to the driving range even if you don’t play golf. As long as you join in.
- Go to your nearest family park or Zoo Lake and let the kids take the dogs for a walk. Take old bread with to feed the ducks and geese.
- Make your house a fun and friendly place, this will provide lots of value for your children, giving them a sense of this is their home too. Invite their friend over and provide pizza and movies.
- Play board games like snakes and ladders or monopoly.
- Have a camp night in your back yard, set up tents, sleeping bags and even have a camp fire. Sit around the fire and roast marshmallows. You can even do a treasure hunt.
- Make an appointment at a hairdresser for your daughter for a wash & blow dry.
- If you live in an estate, starts a mini soccer, baseball or touch rugby league every second weekend. Sure your boys will look forward to joining in.
Remember, you don’t have to feel as though you have to pack every minute of your time with exciting activities. Simply relaxing with your kids can create some of the most memorable times. Hanging out in the backyard throwing ball, or making popcorn and watching a favorite movie together may provide exactly the kind of warm, nurturing feeling with your child that you’d hope for.
Related reading:
After divorce: Helping children cope
How to make your child feel more secure
Please don't hesitate to contact us for more advice and support!
Christel du Toit and Janene Visser
Think Smart - Live Smart!
Copyright Divorcesmart101 2011
Disclaimer: all the information supplied by this website are intended as guidelines only, it is advisable to contact Divorcesmart101 directly for appropriate advice for your unique circumstances
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