Your recent article on involving parents in kids’ learning reinforces the importance of “full-time” parenting. Although it is not always feasible for families to have a parent at home when there are young children in the household, it is the quality of time spent together that can really make the difference.

It is so important that we plan activities that involve quality family time. In today’s world, children are often “scheduled” in the same hectic pace that reflect parents’ own busy lifestyle. Generally, these activities tend to separate family members, as children are place in the hands of other adults, coaches and instructors. In turn, parents are relegated to being observers of their children’s activities rather than participants.

With our strong traditions of ohana and respect for our kupuna, the role of the family is something we have long taken for granted in Hawaii. But in recent times, we have also seen, like the rest of the nation, the deterioration of the family unit and the bonds that have in the past centered us as individuals.

Sadly, the amount of time we spent together as family has diminished. While we cannot change that trend, we, at the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center, can help families make the most of the time they do spend together — by providing a place for them to reflect, observe and talk together about the world around us.  

Children’s museum educators believe that children learn best through active engagement and through concrete experiences. Through family support, such as verbal coaching, behavior modeling, physical assistance and dialogue, we believe children are able to make significant developmental leaps. At the museum, we encourage accompanying family members to engage with their children and participate in their child’s experiences.  

The choice is not an either/or one. The idea is not to replace sports or any of those other activities that are wonderful in and of themselves, but to establish a balance — to create a rich and full, but not frenetic lifestyle for children — to allow them to share time with you as much as any other supervising adult — and to give them time to reflect and appreciate the world around them as well as participating in it.

Truly, there is a real “power” in families spending time and learning together. Kids are helped most by people closest to them, and mothers and fathers are the single most powerful support system for kids. Clinical studies have indicated that children from strong and supportive families are more resilient in life and more likely to succeed.  

By placing the focus on parent/child and family relationships, and providing opportunities for parents, grandparents or caregivers to be involved in the lives of their children physically and emotionally, we can help our children to face life’s challenges successfully.