There are several ways a father can spend quality time with his children and develop a relationship with them. Even if he is extremely busy, he can probably free up enough time to do some of these things.
Tell or read stories at night before bed.
There are lots of excellent Islamic stories and other exciting moral story books available that you can use. You will be helping your children develop Islamic character.
Play with your children.
You could play ball, color pictures, build toy houses from blocks, or do whatever they like.
Let your children help you with simple tasks.
Allow them to help you carry in the groceries, make dinner, or mow the lawn. Children often get great joy from doing things that adults consider work.
Take the family to for a picnic.
Spend time with your children playing Frisbee, passing a ball, or pushing them in the swings. Your children will cherish this special time together as a family.
Use driving time with your children.
Don't just turn on the news and forget your children when they are in the car with you. Talk or joke with them, or read Qur’aan or Islamic Nazms together.
Practice talking with your child, not at him.
Since the father often takes the main responsibility for disciplining children, it is very easy for fathers to merely become order-givers rather than parents and companions of their children. Spend some time listening, rather than talking.
Be available for your children, and let them know that you are there for anything they want to discuss.
If you are not available to talk to your children, somebody else probably will be, and it may be the wrong kind of person. A good way of getting to know your children better as individuals is to take them out one at a time for eating, conversation, or some other event.
By Ibrahim Bowers
