There is nothing more beautiful than a smiling childIt is similar to the heavens opening and God says: “You are a good father, keep it up.” However, if we’re not careful, those smiles can be few and far between, as we live in a fast-paced world and the days are quickly slipping away from us.

Do you remember the Harry Chapin song?

“Cats in the crib”

A boy came the other day
He came into the world in the usual way.
But there were planes to take and bills to pay.
He learned to walk while I was away.
And I was talking before I knew it, and as I got older,
He would say, “I’m going to be like you, Dad.
You know I’m going to be like you. “

We all have bills to pay, jobs that demand our time, and deadlines that are due yesterday (you have to finish this today or the world will end … trust me, planet Earth will keep spinning).

No matter how busy we are, take the time to love and interact with your children. There is one thing that can never be replaced and it is time. Like the proverbial “water under the bridge” once passed, it is gone forever. Take advantage of those tender years and fertile minds with some fun games for children.

It is not so important what the game is, it is the fact that you will spend quality time with your children; It may be one-on-one, possibly with a playmate, but the interaction between you and your child is priceless. One of my distant but loving memories was the time I spent with my dad on a summer afternoon, we weren’t doing much, just throwing a Frisbee, but to this day I remember the sun on my shoulders and the smile on his face. my father.

Forward to my own children, who seem addicted to video games (what can a dad (or mom) do? Well remember, kids today have never known anything but video games, it’s as natural to them as lemonade on a hot day of summer.

So don’t try to get rid of them, instead find out what your kid is interested in, then mix in a little fun and suddenly the whole family will be smiling with a fun kids game. It is not magic, only a father and son create a bond.

Here’s the trick with video games (this probably won’t work for teens, but mine are young), find a game that stimulates the mind and allows for interaction. If the game is for two and there is a playmate, this is a perfect way to teach social interaction, “Now Jimmy, play nice, he’s your friend.”

If you visit Amazon and do a search for Toy & Games, you will find over 466,000 results … Wow, disheartening isn’t it? Don’t worry, it’s easy to find which ones are the best, just do a “Average Customer Review rating” and you’ll immediately find the games that people (and kids) love. Take the time to read some of the reviews, then pick one that will allow your kids to have fun, as well as teach their brains reasoning skills. Hmmm, maybe I should buy one.

Then (with your budget in mind), pull out the trusty debit card and your child’s next game will make its way to your doorstep. When it arrives (and it’s up to you if it’s a surprise or not), make it an event to remember with cookies and milk, cake and ice cream, or something much healthier. The key factor is to enjoy your fun kids game, when you do, so will your own child and friends.

Time is a river flowing in only one direction; be sure to spend time with your children.