In this day and age we are living in a  24/7 life. It used to be that at least one day was set aside for families to rest, engage in self-care and just relax. Today parents are lucky if they have the family together at one meal a week. Why does this matter? What is the importance of teaching children to have a day off?

We have to remember that HOW we live is going to be the biggest lesson that our children will be taught. When we are working 24/7 we are expressing to our kids that this is a value that we hold.  Family does not come first, but work does.  We are teaching them that "down time" is not necessary.  

There is also a tendency to keep kids scheduled. If they are not in school they are doing sports, dance, boy scouts or numerous other activities.  I am not saying that these activities are bad but children NEED down time too. 

We all know that as parents we have an impact on our children.  Children learn best by modeling. As parents we are modeling behaviors, attitudes and patterns to our children daily. If we blow up and begin to throw things when angry we are modeling how to inappropriately express anger.  When we engage in yelling and hurtful words we are modeling inappropriate communication skills. If we spend all of our time consumed on our needs we are modeling a "me first" mentality. 

Children are a product of their environment. What are the values and behavior that we desire for our children?  That question should guide us to look at what we are modeling for them.  Just as we need to be taught new skills, so do our children.  It is through daily modeling that character will be built, attitudes will be learned and behaviors will become habit.