Written by Fiamma Lenzu-Carroll

(This text was part of an assignment in Public Speaking Workshop)

Studies show family time increases better work ethic for kids.

In America, an average of 37 minutes are spent having family time. A healthy amount would be 1-2 hours. Only 3 out of 10 teens spend enough time with family. But why? Why should we waste our time?

The thing is, your family teaches you their mistakes so that you don’t commit their same errors. About 43% of children don’t get enough time with family. If you have or are a child, you would know; family time helps the child get better grades.

Kids really need more time with their family. On top of helping with school, parents can become better ones by knowing the child’s needs. One way to have family time is by simply having a conversation for a while, this increases trust and bonds families together. It can make a big difference. One could also call a relative, you could call them on an app, send them texts, or visit them. It also helps the kid being happier. Believe it or not, kids could help their parents become better too!

The flip side of this is having very little/no time with family could mean worse parenting skills, and worse connections with family. So talk to them!

Talk about what’s happening. No harm done, and it is beneficial to all. When was the last time you had family time?