As parents, it can be tough getting through each week. After the kids, partner, work, house and everything else that ends up on our plates, we mums and dads can be left feeling mentally and physically drained. But a few meaningful moments through the week can go a long way to lifting the spirits and strengthening the family unit. It doesn’t need to be anything scheduled or special. In fact, quality time as a family can happen spontaneously in many situations. Here’s a few ideas to get you started:

1. Breakfast Time

Family meal times are an opportunity to create magic together and a Sunday brunch is a great way to start. When you and the kids are feeling a little more rested and relaxed, it’s an ideal time to do something fun and practical. Kids love cooking and it’s a meaningful way to get them involved in a moment the whole family can enjoy and benefit from. Perhaps they can decide the menu, help to crack eggs, whisk pancakes or spread toast. Choose tasks that are age-appropriate and don’t stress about the mess – you’re creating memories! Little Change Creators’ range of food-grade colouring mats are perfect for baking, protecting bench surfaces and can be popped in the dishwasher for quick and easy clean-ups!

2. Explore outdoors

Nature can be the best remedy for relieving stress and strengthening family relationships. There’s an appropriate saying: “Your kids will remember the adventures you went on, not the stuff you bought them. Kids outgrow stuff, they never outgrow adventures.” This minimalistic approach to life stands at the core of Little Change Creators. We believe our kids and our planet don’t need copious amounts of short-lived ‘stuff’. Simple, thoughtful play sets that offer endless creativity, open-ended fun and repeat-play value are enough to occupy young minds. But what kids do need is our focus and attention. This can be achieved in nature.

3. Give Back

As society becomes consumed by technology and social media, it’s easy to lose sight of what matters most: meaningful connections. Little Change Creators plants a seed of change with each and every product by including a clever ‘pay it forward’ incentive to promote kindness and gratitude within our communities. This simple gesture is designed to ignite a desire in our next generations to create positive change. In the meantime, you might like to foster this passion through organisations that offer volunteering for kids. Churches, not-for-profits and community groups will direct you to where help is needed most.

4. Get Gardening

Just as you watch your kids grow, gardening helps young ones to appreciate nature and understand nurture. Take a trip to the nursery and let the kids choose some herbs, flowers or seedlings. This is an activity where everyone can have fun getting their hands dirty!

5. Play

Playtime is where the magic happens – it’s a time to connect and to make memories. Try focusing on your child’s interests, whether it’s board games, ball sports, bubble fun or building blocks. If your child enjoys creating you might like to try painting, play dough, doodle art or model-making. Little Change Creators’ reusable colouring-in pictures are also ideal for easy kid’s activities. Research shows that creativity for kids releases Dopamine – the feel-good chemical that calms their brains and bodies.

6. Dinner time

This is an ideal moment to interact away from distractions such as phones and TVs. Besides sharing a meal together, this is a time to listen to each other and to connect as a family. Eating with young kids can be tricky though so Little Change Creators has a range of no-mess colouring sets to engage the whole family. Each set is designed to spark discussion and to keep little hands out of mischief. A win-win for young and old!

7. Relax

We parents often feel a sense of guilt when we relax. But it’s not only essential for our wellbeing, it’s important for our kids to see that we value this downtime together too. Mix it up between movie nights, story times and bedtime chats. It’s in these moments of comfort that kids will often open up and share.

Hopefully this list will spark some new routines and stress-free ways to have fun as a family. Remember, one day your kids will have their own lives and you’ll miss the cuddles and chaos.

Make the most of every moment!