Around February time, millions of Americans will tune in to watch the Superbowl. Did you know the television network airing the game reportedly charges around $4Million for a 30-second commercial? That’s over $125,000 per second! Think about how much time, energy and planning those companies use to prepare for just 30-seconds of uninterrupted viewership. Now think about the effort your put forth during that same amount of time with your children.
Much like a television audience, children soak up everything they see from the minute they’re born; and you, as parents, are their most frequently viewed program. Lets face it, they learn your habits pretty quickly; easily figuring out how to push your buttons, catch you off guard, or get you’re attention. Take for example a child fascinated with pressing the buttons on the phone or remote control and subsequently experiencing a noise or an image change; if they like it, they keep fussing with those buttons. Yes, your child is well versed in the nuances of cause and effect.
Today, too many young people find themselves at the edge of the abyss, physically or psychologically. Abuse, depression, anger, alienation, hopelessness and cynicism have infiltrated the lives of too many youngsters, plunging them into a lifelong battle with emotional enslavement. Sadly, many of us are too occupied with our Facebook page, emails and phone calls to recognize all the precious moments of our children’s lives.
So how can 30 seconds improve you relationship with them? Our children know when we’re engulfed in our own technological or work-driven tasks; perhaps you have heard an eager voice say “Daddy, look what I colored,” or “Mommy, you wouldn’t believe what I built, come and see.” For adults, it seems obvious that you simply cannot give them that attention all the time. Yet for children, hugs and kisses means “you care about me” and a pre-occupation directed elsewhere translates to “You’re rejecting me – your movie or emails are more important that me.” All of these messages help to form the basis of your child’s self-concept and self-confidence, which vitally impact how a child develops, both socially and emotionally.
Get The Timer Out!
I challenge you parents out there, along with myself, to stop all that you’re doing in one 30-second long moment (yes, you can time it). Get down on their level, turn your body towards them, and listen to what they’re saying. Take that time to acknowledge what they are doing and how they are feeling, and be fully present with your child. It is amazing how just 30 seconds can improve your relationship with him or her, giving both you and them time to cherish. Unlike the $4Million Pepsi will likely be paying in February, this 30-second commercial is PRICELESS!