The importance of quality time

Family foundations - Quality time helps to strengthen the foundations of the family and a young person's life.

Shared interests - It builds on shared interests as well as creating opportunities to have fun and laugh together.

Friendship - Spending quality time together is a great way to build and maintain friendships with others.

Rituals - Family rituals are important, and are very wide-ranging in their nature. These can be as simple as sharing breakfast together.

Come together in the kitchen - Getting together to cook favorite meals, or to experiment with new recipe ideas, is a hugely rewarding family experience.

Family interaction - It's not about the amount of time you spend together, but instead the quality of your interactions that count.

Communicating together - Make family sit-downs more personal by turning off the television and computer and playing a board game together.

Reading - Picking and reading a short book before bed time is a great way to stay connected. It's also educative, and naturally induces sleepiness.

Working in tandem - For couples, quality time can be spent in so many different ways. Try and arrange an activity that's new and a bit different. Hey, why not rent a tandem and go for a ride?

Wine and dine - Or how about trying that new restaurant in town? Experiment with the menu over a glass of your favorite wine.

We two are one - For two people, all these experiences help to create closeness and exclusivity in couple relationships. But what about spending quality time in solitude?

Being with your buddies - Enjoy social moments together with your best and most trusted friends. Or reconnect with old buddies for a special occasion.

Quality me time - It may not seem so, but spending quality time alone is essential to your well-being.

Clear away stress - Spending a few hours of quality time a week in your own company can help clear your mind of any stress and anxiety.

Self-improvement - Learning a new language or practicing a skill works wonders for confidence and self-esteem. Activities like these also build on necessary social skills.