Whether you have a newborn baby or your children are starting to grow older and get stuck into their school work, you should always make time to bond with your children. Parents who bond well with their children will find that they have a much healthier relationship as times goes by, and the children are less likely to develop mental or physical problems. Apart from knowing your children a lot better, there are many benefits of bonding well with your little ones (or older ones!):
Participate in activities together
You should take part in different activities together, but don’t always be the one to demand which activities it’s time for. You should always let your children choose some of the things he wants to do, since this will help him to feel like he is just as much a part of the bonding process are you are. Even if you’re not particularly fond of the activities, such as painting and messy times, allow it every now and then. Apart from arts and crafts, you can do things together such as dressing up, choosing each other’s outfits and letting them decide which story to act out.
Listen to your child
Children have a lot to say, and while many parents are keen to dismiss many of the things which their child is saying, it’s very important that you take the time to listen. Children understand more than we often give them credit for, and if they have questions about anything, it’s important that they are answered properly rather than being put to one side. Use your child’s questions to bond better with them, but also to help them become more educated. Children retain a lot more information in their younger years, so make the most of it while you can.
Set aside special days
Try to set aside one day each week or each fortnight to do something special with your child. You don’t have to spend the entire day doing something fun, but you should make sure that you spend at least a couple of hours at the park, going shopping or another fun activity. If you have more than one child, be sure to set aside equal amounts of one-to-one time for all of them, so that they don’t start getting jealous of other another and fighting over your time.