hanging out with your dc s ??

[linconlass]

My parents did nt really spend time with me in house - maybe a generational thing - always doing housework or dad busy doing his car etc.We mainly watched tv or played occasional game and did homework.
. I m a bit embarassed to admit that sometimes im not "sure "what to do with my dd and ds in the house.!! sometimes feel at a loss.They are 12 and 13.Sometimes both dd and ds like to cook with me.My dd always wants to chat and sometimes we read together and ds will occasionally rad with me but rarley.I must admit i really do not like games .Unless anyone can suggest a good game - i hate momopoly ,game of life etc....i really want to spend time with them but not with a tv screen....anysuggestions wd be really appricicated esp for ds....

Try to involve your DCs in all things that involve self-care - DD (5) and I will often have a long bath/hair wash/manicure and pedicure session. She has learned to wash very thoroughly because of this, understands about keeping clean and why it is important etc. She also loves cooking and shopping with me.

we have a game called 'family dinner game' where you take turns to speak about your beliefs / memories / dreams etc
it's great for getting conversations going and for helping children feel listened to - however they might resist if they thought it was a bit cringy, i don't know
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how about twister or something daft like that?
taking up a craft hobby together, or a sport? running, cycling?
have you a garden you could cook together on a fire outside, or plant and grow things (if they like cooking, they might like growing veg?)
grooming stuff with your dd, give each other a manicure - put her hair in a different style?

Even at 14 and 16 Ds 1&2 often invite me out to the park etc with them ....I have often been persuaded to 'play' on the ps2 or x box with them (im crap)we play games on the pc ....we walk the dog together,shop together in fact quite often we will walk to the supermarket later at night for a bag of maltesers and a bottle of juice just to spend 'time' together.

I think the trick is the 'talking' even if your not doing something together you can talk and share the time.

Do not play twister I have been caught in many unusual positions by unexpected visitors .

thanks all -i realise that I do the hair washing,the walks to shop,hanging out in garden,cooking ,and dog walk.Maybe i think that i should play games and dont have to !!The dinner party games sounds good so long as ds does not sus it as ploy to keep him at the dinner table -which it wd be !! ha ha- as he usually tries to eat and run!!

in winter months, we sometimes have a big jigsaw puzzle going that we work on periodically for an hour at a time. it sits on a table we don't use often.

how about sports??

As teenagers we used to go out for walks with my mum and bike rides with my dad
my brother used to play golf with my dad and squash and we all played tennis with him
we spent a lot of time in the summer in the garden playing, running through sprinkler etc while my mum gardened
we never played board games with my mum but sometimes played cards with my dad

I like hanging out with dd, but find it works best outside of the house.

At home, I am often distracted by chores, telephone, computer, etc. Outside the house, none of those distractions figure in.

We do family walks outside and outings etc and i do ride at a stable with my dd weekly.Cant do it v well as have knee problem post surgery ! and so cant do impact such as badmington which i wd love to do as family but no way can.We fine for out of house stuff its stuff in house- partic with ds- like early bird i do get distracted by the dreaded housework!!!

Bike riding/dog walking etc - ie things I like to do which dd also enjoys so she comes along.

Helping out - dd spent this afternoon piling up wood that DH & I had chopped.

We do play a lot of board games, but DH & I did (and still do) when it was just the two of us - in fact the advantage of dd is that there are lots more good games for 3 players than for 2.

A trip to the shops to look for something they want, whether it's a couple of new pens or clothes.

Bake or cook something together.

Play mario kart (or whatever computer game is popular in your house)

Picnic or trip to the beach together

met friend today and we went to aprk with dcs and they rode their bikes then they played in paddling pool we tended to be sat back chatting and would chat to them as and when they wanted. I would call that hanging out and ds has announced it was the best day ever!!! (despite the fact I ignored him more than I would if at home )