Quantity or quality? The debate is over. When it comes to the time parents spend with children, experts now agree: children need both. They need high-quality time with adults -- and lots of it.

That's because we now know that every minute parents and other caregivers spend holding, laughing, loving, playing, teaching, caring and reading helps a child's brain develop and IQ to grow. In fact, research shows that your child will learn more before entering school than at any other single time in life.

Still, finding time to give children a great start can be hard while juggling the demands of jobs, school, church, family, neighborhood ties and more.

No one understands this better than Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. She has three children, two daughters and a son. When she first entered state politics, her youngest child was still in diapers.

"During the early years, we had the challenges all working parents face," said Granholm. "Colic, sick kids, changing childcare providers, all of it. It was a great, wonderful lesson in juggling and patience. We had to learn to say, 'This too shall pass.'"

So how has she managed to balance parenting with the demands of being "the boss of Michigan" as her son calls her? She shared a few tips during a recent conversation with EduGuide.

Put Your Children First

Granholm and her husband, first gentleman Daniel Mulhern, made a decision early on to always put their children first when balancing life's demands.

"You start with family time and build your schedule around that," she says.

As governor, she admits it would be easy to let her schedule consume all her time. Instead, she has blocked out the hours of 6 to 9 p.m., when she and Mulhern make sure they are home and available for their children.

The family has made other decisions as well. For example, when their children were in childcare, the couple built in together-time by having one parent drop off children and the other pick them up at the end of the day. Granholm has also learned to let some things go.

"When my kids are gone, my house will be clean," she laughs. "It's not perfect now, and it hasn't been for years. But that's OK, because now there are more important things to take care of." 

Early Brain Development

While she was still attorney general, Granholm learned that early experiences have a powerful effect on a child's developing brain.

"I found out that the brains of children who are nurtured, stimulated and loved actually look different than those of children who were raised in a high-stress environment," she says. "And these differences are irreversible. Parents need to have access to this research."

That's one reason she has launched Project Great Start, an initiative to link people and organizations to provide services and support for families with children ages 0 to 5. A key service will be high-quality information.

"Many parents think that they shouldn't read to babies because they're too little to understand," says Granholm. "That's not the point. Babies don't have to understand the words; they need to hear the language and be close to their parents.

"Parents need to know that when they do these positive things, their child's brain will grow differently and they lay a foundation for future learning." 

Make Learning Fast and Fun

Granholm and Mulhern read to their children during spare moments. They also strictly limit TV time to make room for more active and social play. During the early childhood years, they found ways to create learning moments.

For example, the family kept a big pad of paper and writing tools in the kitchen. When she had a few moments before dinner, Granholm played games with her children and their friends. She would write letters, numbers, words or shapes and give prizes (peanuts were a favorite) to whomever could name it first.

"My kids always asked to play that game," she recalls. "They had fun, and I included a little literacy into their day." 

Network of Support

"Parenting is not a solo job," says Granholm. "One person can't do it all. It's important to share the work with other adults and schedule breaks."

She and her husband schedule a date night every week to get away from parenting responsibilities and share ideas.

She seeks out others' advice as well. "I am constantly asking for tips from other parents about the experiences I'm struggling through with my kids."

Project Great Start will help, tapping into a Children's Action Network to bring together various agencies to coordinate support for children and their families. 

Laugh, Love and Enjoy Your Child

A parent's most important job is also the most natural: Treat your children like they are the best thing that has happened to you. Research shows that little brains develop best when children feel safe, loved and stress-free. Maybe that's why parents are their child's most important teacher.

"I try not to focus on just the challenges," says Granholm. "Children make life spectacular. When you have a child, you grow a whole 'nother heart."