Mums should spend time bonding with their children over technology

Mums are dissatisfied with the amount of quality time they spend with their children.

A new report by Energizer and child expert Dr Pat Spungin, found that 60 per cent of mothers want more ‘quality’ time with their children but that work or housework is stopping them.

The Positive Moments Report was conducted to ‘honour’ the importance of quality time and seek mums’ views about areas they feel could they could improve.

Pat Spungin said: “Quality time is not about planning something extraordinary, it’s about everyday activities which are transformed by the intensity with which they are experienced. I don’t believe you can set aside half an hour and make it quality time and the findings confirm this. Mums list ‘laughing’ at the top of their list of quality experiences; laughing is not just a quick response to a joke but a sustained bout of mutual pleasure at something funny”.

A total of 86 per cent of mums agreed that technology has had an impact on the quality time they spend with their children.

A 51 per cent of mothers feel that computer games and consoles are taking their children away from shared family time. 

But younger mothers are not trying to win over their children from computer games –  they are joining them instead.

Of the mothers questioned aged between 16 and 24 years, 54 per cent view playing computer games with their children as quality time.

“Mums need to harness the positive energy of technology and stop seeing it as a barrier to time with their children and instead see it as an opportunity,” Pat continues. “Why can’t we embrace ‘techtime’ within our everyday routines like ‘storytime’ and ‘bathtime’?”

To help mothers embrace technology and see it as a positive time-opportunity with their children, Pat has come up with a series of tips to help break down the mum versus child-technology barrier.

Don’t leave the room when your kids go to play their latest video game – if it’s a shared play game then join in. Ask for advice and tips on how to improve and challenge them to competitions.

Consoles like Nintendo Wii, Playstation Move and Xbox Kinect are great for shared play – set family challenges or take on your kids at different sports. As well as creating shared time together, they help everyone have fun and keep fit.

Avoid having a TV in a kid’s bedroom – make TV watching a shared family activity and encourage debate and discussion around favourite shows.

When your children ask a question about their homework, spend time surfing the net for the answer together. Let their curiosity take over and suggest other things you could look up and learn together.

If you feel your child is always using social media then think about ways you can turn it into shared activity. Why not set up a Facebook fan site page about a shared interest or have fun running your own farm on Farmville together?

Find a communal area to have your family computer. That way your kids aren’t isolated and you can encourage them to talk to you and ask questions as they surf or do their homework.

Check out your local library for any technology training schemes they might have, or events for you and your child.

Make the most of your kid’s smart phone camera or video recorder and challenge them to create a visual diary of life in your house – help direct or star in it and then post it up on Bebo or YouTube.

Use Skype together to connect with relatives and friends. Set up regular ‘calls’ as a chance to bring the family closer together and share news. It’s also a great way to save money