Weeks fly by, interspersed by little but meals, Netflix shows, and working late into the night to complete pending tasks. Working and parenting have a bittersweet relationship. The balance often tips toward one over the other, with parents struggling to keep things more equitable.
Contemporary work culture can be so draining that you have little energy left after returning from the office. Even if you work from a home office, you may find it tricky to divide personal and professional space. It is tough to muster the energy for physical games, letting your kids ride on your shoulder, or answering their limitless questions about all and sundry.
Watching a movie or television show together has become a standard way to bond on weekdays. Watching TV as a family can be fun, but let’s admit it has shortcomings. Everyone wants to watch something different, so people end up moving to their rooms or distractedly scrolling their social media feeds. Where is the scope for bonding?
It is time to change things a little in 2025. Let us explore three fresh ways to bond with children on weekdays without feeling worse for the wear.
#1: Play a Classic or Newfangled Board Game V2.0
Board games used to be a staple family affair in the last decade. People would come together to create strategies for winning at Monopoly. The more industrious kids and adults pursued word lists with Z to ace Scrabble. Somewhere along the line, the culture dwindled – arguably due to the invasion of screens.
Why not bring back the charm of family bonding time by playing a board game that involves everyone? The key here is to select something kids and adults will appreciate. So, if classic Backgammon does not sound interesting anymore, find something even more riveting than the dozenth YouTube short.
In 2024, Wirecutter shared a fabulous list of the best board games guaranteed to have people enthralled (or even screeching!).
Anomia is a word- and pattern-recognition game that takes around 30 minutes per round. You can play it with children over ten. But you might lose, for children often have an edge at detecting patterns and chaotic yelling. Or, you can try Wavelength. Kids as young as five can have fun playing this hysterical communication game about the world around us.
Board games don’t take much physical labor, so you can keep the commitment of family game night even after a long workday. They offer plenty of returns – giggles, impromptu hugs, and memories – for a relatively small investment in bonding.
#2: Cheerlead Their After School Triumphs
Many working parents miss school events like an open house, a sports day, or even biggies like middle school graduation. These functions may not always happen on weekends, and taking time off can be difficult.
A 2024 FinanceBuzz survey revealed that 67% of daddies are distressed about missing their children’s daily life on workdays. It is safe to assume moms feel this way as well – or even more, considering societal pressures. Even so, taking a day off may have negative consequences. Around 25% of the respondents felt that leaving the office to pick up a sick child also comes with baggage.
So, if school events are touch and go, how about bonding with your children for their post-school antics instead? Many American cities offer diverse hobby classes, from sports to music and science. Do you live in an adventurous state like North Carolina? Kids can learn kayaking or rock-climbing. Charlotte has stunning parks and greenways to inspire artwork and sculpture in passionate children.
Once or twice a week, you can drive your children to after-school activities they love. The journey to and fro will be filled with animated discussions about things they adore. You may get a chance to see them in action, doing pottery or winning at soccer. Children will love to share this time with you as it centers on something close to their hearts.
Beyond school, kids can learn valuable lessons on the playground when interacting with peers and solving challenges together. Mission Grit recommends picking classes carefully to balance leisure and learning and considering your child’s interests. You can choose a logistically suitable place from your office to set up the weekly ritual.
#3: Go for a Walk Around the Block, With Perks
This third idea requires slightly more effort, but it’s ideal for moving those muscles after hours of sitting in the office. On an evening when you come home before dark, round up the brood and head for a walk. A regular walk can be much more if you throw in the right perks.
Children aren’t usually that hard to please. Getting your preschooler a balloon on the way back or stopping at the bookstore for your comic-loving teen can be the day’s highlight.
A Pew Research survey on parenting throws light on how modern parents value communication and conversation with their children. Around 44% say they are trying to adopt a different parenting approach from their upbringing.
Most of these mums and dads want to feel more involved in their kids’ lives and show verbal affection. Walking together presents a brilliant opportunity to share the day’s events and cherish each other’s companionship.
Restrict the walk to your housing area if the neighborhood isn’t walk-friendly. You could let the kids bring their scooters and bicycles and spend time at the park. Many parks have ice cream or waffle places conveniently outside. There’s your chance to be a supermom or dad. And no, it won’t hurt anyone to dine on sugary things as a one-off. The broccoli certainly won’t mind.
That old saying about the connectedness of families who eat and pray together might be true. When we participate in activities as a group, it gives us a sense of belonging and support.
Children will be reassured that you have their backs, even if you cannot always be around or have perfect attendance for all their school events. The quality of time spent together usually matters much more than the number of hours.
