Parenthood is an incredible, whirlwind adventure. But between jobs, errands, and trying to maintain some semblance of adult life, quality time with our kids can easily fall by the wayside. If you’re struggling to find the motivation to truly connect with your children, let these 73 inspirational quotes ignite your desire for more meaningful moments together.
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Why Spending Time With Your Kids Is So Important
As parents, we want to give our children the best possible start in life. Spending quality time with them isn’t just about fun (though that’s important too!). It’s about nurturing their development, building strong bonds, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.
Fun Ways to Connect with Your Children
Need ideas to get started? Here are a few suggestions:
- Read books together: Snuggle up and dive into exciting stories! A book subscription box makes it easy, delivering a tailored selection of reads to your door each month.
- Get creative: Draw, paint, build, or try a craft kit tailored to your child’s age and interests. Take a quiz to find your perfect crate from KiwiCo!
- Explore the outdoors: Go for walks, play in the park, or take a nature-focused scavenger hunt.
- Cook or bake together: Let them help measure ingredients or lick the spoon – it’s about the process, not just the outcome.
- Have a movie night: Let everyone pick a favorite film, pop some popcorn, and enjoy! Consider the 100 Kids Movie Scratch Off Poster to make the selection extra special.
It’s Time to Make Your Family a Top Priority
No matter if you have five minutes or a full afternoon, prioritize connecting with your children. The effort you make today will have lasting benefits for both you and them.
Remember, It’s the Little Moments That Matter
3. “A parent’s love is whole no matter how many times it is divided.” – Robert Brault
4. “It’s not what we give our children, but what we teach them to give to others that will make them truly rich.” – Unknown
5. “Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury, it’s a necessity.” -Kay Redfield Jamison
6. “There is no friendship, no love like that of a parent for their child.” –Henry Ward Beecher
7. “No matter how old a mother is, she watches her middle-aged children for signs of improvement.” – Florida Scott-Maxwell
8. “There are two gifts we should give our children. One is roots, the other is wings.” – Hodding Carter Jr.
9. “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” – James Baldwin
10. “It kills you to see them grow up. But I guess it would kill you quicker if they didn’t.” – Barbara Kingsolver
11. “A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.” – Paulo Coelho
12. “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” –Henry Ward Beecher
13. “Every time you look into your child’s eyes, remember that they are the future of mankind and should be treated as such.” – Unknown
14. “Children must be taught how to think not what to think!” – Margaret Mead
15. “Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” – Anne Frank
16. “Take time to enjoy the simple things in life with your children because before you know it, they’ll be grown and gone. Make memories.” – Unknown
17. “When I come home, my daughter will run to the door and give me a big hug, and everything that’s happened that day just melts away.” – Hugh Jackman
18. “Every day is an opportunity to make new happy memories with your kids.” – Unknown
19. “The best way to teach children about responsibility is to give them little tasks and ask them to complete them.” – Unknown
20. “No matter how busy you are, always make time for your kids. They will thank you later.” – Unknown
21. “The duty of a parent is not only to provide for his children’s material needs but also to inspire in them noble ideas and high aspirations.” – Ezra Taft Benson
22. “You don’t raise heroes, you raise sons. If you treat them like sons, they’ll turn out to be heroes, even if it’s just in your own eyes.” – Walter M. Schirra Sr
23. “Spending quality time with your kids is more important than spending money on them.” – Unknown
24. “Children need your presence more than they need your presents.” – Jesse Jackson
25. “One of the greatest gifts you can give to someone is time spent together.” – Unknown
26. “Make sure you spend time with your children so that they know how much you love them.” – Unknown
27. “Take time to be a dad today, because a day at work won’t make up for years of absence tomorrow.” – Unknown
28. “The most rewarding part of being a parent is watching your children grow into kind, intelligent and independent people.” – Unknown
29. “A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.” – Paulo Coelho
30. “The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.” – Denis Waitley
31. “Parenting is not about what you say; it’s about what you do and how you live your life—it’s modeling behavior for your children.” – Amy Morin
32. “As parents, we have a profound opportunity to shape our children’s lives by the values we live and teach them.” – Unknown
33. “The most important thing that parents can give their children is unconditional love.” – Joyce Meyer
34. “Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.” – Margaret Mead
35. “It’s not enough to just love your kids; you have to also show it—with actions as well as words.” – Unknown
36. “Don’t worry that your children don’t listen to you; worry that they are always watching you.” – Robert Fulgham
37. “Make sure your kids know you love them, no matter what—even if they make mistakes.” – Unknown
38. “Your children are the message you to the future, what kind of message do you want to send?” – Unknown
39. “The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” – Henry Ward Beecher
40. “Children will always rise to the expectation you set for them, so make it high.”- Unknown
41. “Be an example of compassion and kindness that your children can learn from and emulate in life.” – Dalai Lama XIV
42. “As parents, our job is not only to provide for our children’s material needs but also to instill in them a strong moral foundation.” – Unknown
43. “The most important thing you can give your children is a good example of how to live life.” – Unknown
44. “Parents are our first teachers, and the best way to teach kids is through example, not only by words but by deeds as well.” – Unknown
45. “Kids don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” – Theodore Roosevelt
46. “Your children will imitate what they see you do more than what they hear you say. They learn from watching your actions and attitude—make sure it’s something worth learning from!” – Unknown
47. “The most important thing that parents can do for their children is to love them unconditionally and to provide them with a safe and secure environment in which they can thrive.” – Unknown
48. “The best way to help your children become successful in life is to lead by example—be a role model of hard work, integrity and kindness.” – Unknown
49. “It’s not enough just to love your children; you have to show it through your actions, words and spending quality time with them.” – Unknown
50. “Parenting is about giving our kids roots so that they may grow wings.” – Unknown
51. “Raising children is the most important thing you can do in life; it’s both a privilege and a great responsibility.” – Unknown
52. “Your children need your presence more than your presents.” – Jesse Jackson
53. “We must teach our children that one person can make a difference, no matter how small or insignificant their actions may seem at the time.” – Michelle Obama
54. “Parenting isn’t about perfection—it’s about connection and doing the best you can in any given moment with love and kindness” – Unknown
55. “The best way to give your child roots and wings is by loving them deeply and teaching them how to think independently and make their own decisions.” – Unknown
56. “The most important lesson you can teach your children is that the best way to achieve success is through hard work, dedication and integrity.” – Unknown
57. “When we raise our children with love, compassion, respect and understanding, we open up a world of possibilities for them to explore.” – Unknown
58. “Your job as a parent is to give your kids roots so that they may have wings when they are ready to fly.” – Unknown
59. “The greatest gift you can give your children is the ability to believe in themselves.” – Unknown
60. “Parenting isn’t about getting it right all the time; it’s about loving your kids and setting a good example of how to live life.” – Unknown
61. “It’s not enough to just tell your kids to do the right thing—you have to show them what it looks like in action.” – Unknown
62. “The best way to build strong relationships with your children is by listening and understanding their feelings, fears and hopes for the future.” – Unknown
63. “Children learn from you not only through words but also through actions; so make sure that what you are showing them reflects the values you want them to embrace.” – Unknown
Spending Time With Your Kids Quotes
“Spending time with your kids isn’t going to hurt you.” ~ Charles J. Sykes, American author and journalist.