Q: We are not able financially to take long car trips or get into expensive hobbies.

Could you suggest some simple traditions that will appeal to small children?

A: You don’t have to spend huge amounts of money to have a meaningful family life.

Children love the most simple, repetitive kinds of activities.

They want to be read the same stories hundreds of times and to hear the same jokes long after they’ve heard the punch lines.

These interactions with parents are often more fun than expensive toys or special events.

A friend of mine once asked his grown children what they remembered most fondly from their childhoods. Was it the vacations they took together or the trips to Langkawi or the zoo?

No, they told him. It was when he would get on the floor and wrestle with the children. They would tackle the “old man” and laugh until their sides hurt.

That’s the way children think. The most meaningful activities within families are often those that focus on that which is spontaneous and personal.

This is why you can’t buy your way out of parenting responsibilities, though many have tried.

Busy and exhausted mothers and fathers, especially those who are affluent, sometimes attempt to “pay off” their deprived children with toys, cars, and expensive experiences.

It rarely works. What boys and girls want most is time spent with their parents – building things or singing in the car or hiking.

In short, many families have forgotten how to have fun in everyday experiences. The things they do together can become hallmarks of their years together.

No toy to be played with alone can ever compete with the enjoyment of such moments. And they will be remembered for a lifetime.

This article was published with permission from Focus on the Family Malaysia.

If you liked this article and would like to go deeper, we have some helpful resources at family.org.my.

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