The team at AFC Urgent Care Fountain City hopes you’ve had a wonderful summer with the kiddos. Perhaps you might even be sad that the time has arrived for the kids to head back to school. After all, you enjoyed extra quality time with them this summer. Well, hold back those tears, because there are plenty of things you can do to stay connected to your kids during the school year. Make Time for Quality Time There are 24 hours in every person’s day. It’s how we use our time that matters most. Read on for some tips on how to stay connected with your little ones year-round. If possible, try and make time for your kids after they get off the bus and before they start their homework. They will need a “brain” break in between school and homework, so come up with an activity that can help everyone in the family relax and reconnect. Maybe load up the kitchen table with drawing paper, markers, crayons, stencils, etc., and have some craft time to help destress from a busy day. You can also use this time to check in with your kids about how their day went—and if they learned anything interesting at school or made any new friends. We recognize, though, that for many families, making time right after school is not feasible. Between work and after-school activities, even getting dinner on the table can be a challenge. Still, that doesn’t mean you don’t have time for quality time. Instead of focusing on the time after school to reconnect, use the time before bedtime to communicate with your kids and ask about their day. Get in the routine of asking them around three to four questions a night about their day—and make sure those questions can’t be answered by “yes” or “no.” It might only take five or 10 minutes, but those minutes can quickly add up to time you and your kids need to help stay connected. Pack in more quality family time on the weekends. Establish a family “date” each week that you don’t miss. Plan out activities as a family that you want to explore. While you do, keep the phones out of reach so that you can truly connect. Is your child up to date on the vaccines needed for school? Visit AFC Urgent Care Fountain Cityfor any immunizations needed before the bell rings on a new school year.