American families, to a great extent, have seen a significant shift in family roles, with parents spending less time with their children. Due to the detrimental effects of the poor economy, many parents are spending time away from home, trying to provide and keep a stable income. However, one lasting effect is that many of these parents who are spending less time with their kids are not establishing strong, healthy relationships with them.
The YMCA is trying to rectify the problem. One of its programs, the Adventure Guides at the Culver Palms YMCA, is attempting to help foster parent-child bonding. The focus of the program is to help parents make lifelong memories so that their children can form a positive future. Children between kindergarten and third grade are given the opportunity to get time back with their parents.
“It’s a nice opportunity to spend one-on-one time,” Maren Neufeld, a member of the program, said. “My older kids [who were previously in the program] have good memories of spending time together.”
Participants are formed into small groups of five to 10 pairs, with other pairs similar to them (father/son, father/daughter, mother/son, mother/daughter). They meet once to twice monthly in the evenings and also take part in a monthly weekend activity.
Asked about its positive impact, member Andy Reilman said he enjoyed “making connections with other families in the community.”
With a list of activities that includes creating crafts, singing songs, sharing stories, taking weekend camping trips, picnicking and biking, families are able to participate in various events that help strengthen the parent/child relationship.
“I was a kid and did it 30 years ago. It gives me time with my daughter – time where we’re just together doing things with no other distractions,” Reilman said.
At the last meeting, parents and their kids made dolls out of corn husks and raced in an obstacle course in which they had to work together to accomplish the task.
“I like spending time with my dad,” said Ari Wilson, son of member Ken Wilson.
The cost is $100 for facility members and $200 for program members. Each additional child for facility members is $50 and $100 for program members.
For more information, email Katie Laase at KatherineLaase@ymcala.org or call (310) 390-3604, ext. 7525.