Research shows that spending quality time with children can have beneficial effect. Benefits can include less behavior issues, increased mental and emotional health, and improved physical health. Gregory Elliott published a study in the Journal of Family Issues that showed that adolescents who felt they mattered to their families were less likely to engage in or threaten violence towards family members. Several studies show negative impacts when a child doesn’t receive love, attention, or guidance from parents/caregivers. The quality of time spent together matters more than the quantity. The challenge is to spend intentional time engaging in quality time as parents/caregivers with children.

McCreary County Cooperative Extension service offered a class on May 5, 2021 for 4H youth and their parent/caregiver. This class was focused on providing education on the importance of quality time with children and to provide the opportunity for parent/child interaction. 10 youth and 5 adults participated in the program. Parent and child/children were taught the importance of communicating and spending quality time together. Conversations related to favorite memories, favorite subject in school, and likes/dislikes were encouraged as part of the program. Each family unit worked together to create a fairy garden. Participants were encouraged to use teamwork, communication, and creativity to create unique fairy gardens for each family.

Participants all indicated they enjoyed the program and would like to do so again. One family foraged the outdoor area to find additional items to create a house for their fairy. Another family worked together to create a river out of blue stones. Participants verbally indicated they enjoyed the opportunity to work together and spend time on a mutual task. Parents indicated they enjoyed the activity and spending time together. Youth indicated an enjoyment of the activity and working with parent/caregiver. All participants demonstrated the skills taught to create a fairy garden and to communicate and work together as a team.

One youth participant went home and reported she then made an additional 3 fairy gardens to give as gifts to grandparents for Mothers’ Day. Although the objective of the program was to encourage quality time spent with primary caregivers, this youth demonstrated the initiative and creativity to take a skill learned during the program and use it to express appreciation to other important people in her life.