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Most parents struggle against the increasingly hectic pace that sends family members in different directions at different times. Topsy-turvy schedules and extended work hours threaten to disrupt family life and leave your children lost in the battle to keep the family strong. With Americans working longer hours, many on weekends, there’s often little time left over to connect with your children on a regular and extended basis even when you work from home.

More and more people work 50-plus hours a week. And, employed Americans, male and female, take fewer and shorter vacations (four weeks including holidays) than their European counterparts. The French, for example, average almost 12 vacation weeks each year, the Swedes 16. While it’s impossible to quantify how shortened time with children will ultimately affect them, it is possible in five minutes (more or less) to let your children know they are loved and to strengthen your bond to them.

Here are simple, fast, and fun ideas for thoughtful things you can do in five minutes more or less that will go a long way toward building lasting family connections and making your children feel special:

1.) After dinner, turn up the radio and dance with your children for a few minutes.

2.) Sing a wake-up song each morning that includes your child's name.

3.) Prepare the grocery list together.

4.) Include your child in meal planning; children have surprisingly good suggestions.

5.) Tell your child jokes and laugh at hers.

6.) Create a song that includes the names of all family members and sing it in the car on the way to a practice or lesson.

7.) Occasionally, take stock of what your family is thankful for and the ways you are fortunate.

8.) Express your opinions. Sharing values and beliefs lets your children know what and how you think.

9.) Save their schoolwork in a box with their name on it -- "Mike, 2nd Grade" -- to demonstrate your interest. It will encourage them to do better.

10.) Ask your child on a regular basis what was the best and worst part of their day or week.

11.) Use the mail to send a stick of gum, a special pin, a fancy pencil, of some other small object your child will enjoy.

12.) Act silly. Chase your child through the house or pretend to be an airplane and soar down on him. Be ridiculous!

13.) Never be too busy to watch your children's homemade magic or puppet shows and plays. Get into it; clap loudly!

14.) Teach your child a card trick.

15.) Grow a plant together. You might stick toothpicks in a sweet potato and put it in a glass of water near a kitchen window. Check it every few days together.