Family time — important for the family

Time spent together keeps the family together

Experts have no doubt that family time is one of the most important factors for a happy, well-functioning family life. Studies back up this assumption: overall, families who spent a lot of time together rated their family cohesion more positively, felt more secure within the family and assessed their relationships with both close and more distant relatives more favourably. Given this, it is not surprising that nine out of ten parents especially wish they had more time for their children.

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Why do we have less and less time for family?

The seventh family report by the Federal Government’s Expert Commission confirms what many parents experience every day: people, especially between the ages of 27 and 40, lack time. Why is that?

Later entry into the labour market

Because vocational training is becoming more demanding and international, many young people enter the labour market later. In most cases the first career steps coincide with starting a family. Young parents increasingly put pressure on themselves to remain as productive as possible at work even with children, so as not to jeopardise their careers.

More women working

Many women return to work at the latest one year after giving birth — partly because they want a career, partly for financial reasons. The workload of partners does not change as a result — and recent surveys show that the division of labour at home and in childcare also remains unchanged.

Two incomes necessary

In many families the income of one parent is no longer sufficient to live on. Those who studied may have to repay student loans or accept a low starting salary. At the same time, expectations have risen — many people want two cars, a home of their own and regular holidays.

Leisure-time stress

Not only work, childcare and school are responsible for the lack of family time. Many parents increase the pressure by trying to offer their children as much as possible. During the week days are filled with music lessons, sports clubs or tutoring, and in the evenings there are homework — leaving little time for the family.

How can I create more family time in everyday life?

When it comes to family time, quantity is not the only thing that counts — quality matters most. Fifteen minutes of breakfast together every morning can be more valuable than two hours sitting in front of the TV together. Family time means listening and responding to each other, or simply having fun together and experiencing new things.

Shared meals:
Try to get the whole family around the table for at least one meal a day. Which meal that is and how long it lasts is up to you — the important thing is that no one reads or types on their phone. Ask each other about the day’s experiences or plan activities for the weekend.

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Set aside a day for the family:
The older children get, the harder it becomes to get them to join shared activities. Nevertheless, you can try to schedule a common family day each week. It works best if the children can have a say — perhaps a different family member gets to plan an activity each time.

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Give children more time:
Those who spend the day in daycare or at school and attend playgroups, extra-curricular support or sports classes in the afternoon have hardly any time to do nothing. Yet that free time is important for children to relax and to learn. Children must be able to play freely and undisturbed on their own — therefore parents should create more free time not only for themselves but also for their children.
Discuss flexible working arrangements:
Although most parents with young children want more flexible working hours, many employers still only offer part-time and full-time options. In many jobs flexitime arrangements, working-time accounts or working from home would be perfectly feasible. Perhaps you can suggest such an arrangement to your employer — employees who can organise their working hours flexibly are generally even more productive and motivated.