Jeanette Friesen, Extension Educator
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension
Does it seem that you have no time for family time any more? If so, research will confirm those thoughts. A national study completed six years ago found that children had a 12 hour per week decline in the free time they had, their play time had decreased by three hours per week and unstructured outdoor activities fell by 50%.
In addition, household conversations dropped by 100% between 1981 and 1997. Children spent only 45 minutes per week in conversation with anyone in the family. Family dinners saw a 33% decrease; there was a 28% decrease in families taking a vacation; and religious participation declined 40% in hours per week for children ages 3 - 12 and 24% for high school students with weekly religious attendance.
Where is the time going? It is no surprise that many of the hours are going to sports. Structured sports has more than doubled. Passive, spectator sports has increased five times. (This includes time children watch their siblings play structured sports.) Studying has also increased by nearly 50%.
What is the concern? Several national studies have found that regular family meals were the strongest predictor of academic success, avoidance of undesirable behavior and better nutrition than any other factor. Teens have even identified not having enough time with their parents as a top concern.
What does this mean for you? Where are you spending your family time? On a bleacher watching someone play ball? Eating meals together? Talking together? Attending religious activities together? Taking a vacation together?
This week, take time to assess what your family priorities are. How are you spending your time? Are your children in too many extra-curricular activities? Do you eat meals together, at least once a day? It may be time to say "no" to some good things in order to enjoy the "best" with your family - time together. Then go to unlforfamilies.unl.edu, click on TIPS, and let us know what you've discovered.
Source: "Overscheduled Kids, Underconnected Families: the Research Evidence" by William J. Doherty, PhD., University of Minnesota. Written by Jeanette Friesen, UN Extension Educator.
