Building parent-child relationships is essential for every family. You must have a healthy bonding with your kids to understand and help them. This helps keep the family together and happy. Children learn about the world around them through a positive parent-child relationship. And, they also help with the physical, social, and emotional development of the child. As they are growing and changing, children look to their parents to determine whether or not they are safe, secure and loved. It is also the foundation from which they will build their future relationships.
It is clear that building a good parent-child relationship is the best way to keep your kids on track. But there are many more benefits to the same. Here are some of them:
> Helps develop a happy and content relationship with others in life.
> The secure relationship with parents helps regulate emotions during difficult times.
> Helps the child to be optimistic and confident.
> Promotes the child’s mental and emotional development.
> Parents’ interaction promotes social and academic skills.
> Helps promote problem-solving skills.
Any parent-child relationship problem needs to be dealt with, with a proper approach to parenting. You have to keep a strong bond with your kids from the beginning. But you should also be flexible and change the approach as and when needed.
Tips on how to emotionally connect with your child;
1. Prioritize your relationship with your child.
Your kids should be your top priority until they grow up. Therefore, you have to spend as much time as possible with them. Making smaller schedules and excuses for your kids may weaken your bonding. Hence, take the effort to put them at the top of your priority.
2. Be available for them.
When your kids are growing, proper interaction is needed for them to improve their skills. You must be responsive to your child’s needs. This helps to support your kids mentally and will help to strengthen your bond. You should be attentive, loving, and able to see things from their perspective during this time.
3. Turn off technology when you interact with your child.
Your child will remember for the rest of her life that she was important enough to her parents that they turned off their phone to listen to her. Even turning off music in the car can be a powerful invitation to connect, because the lack of eye contact in a car takes the pressure off, so kids (and adults) are more likely to open up and share.
4. Show Your Love
Human touch and loving affection are needed at every stage of our lives for healthy emotional and neurobiological development. Your child must receive gentle, loving touch (i.e., hugs) from you several times throughout the day. Treat every interaction as an opportunity to connect with your child. Greet them with warm expressions, give eye contact, smile, and encourage honest interaction.
5. Say “I love you” often
It is often implied that we love our children, but be sure to tell them every day, no matter what age they are. Even when your child is being difficult or does something you don’t like; this can be an excellent opportunity to remind them that you love them unconditionally. A simple “I love you” can have a major impact on your long-term relationship with your child.
6. Set boundaries, rules, and consequences
Children need structure and guidance as they grow and learn about the world around them. Talk to your children about what you expect of them and make sure they understand. When rules are broken, make sure to have age-appropriate consequences in place and be consistent with them
We’re only human. There are days when all we can do is meet our children’s most basic needs. Some days it’s nothing short of heroic simply to feed them, bathe them, keep an encouraging tone, and get them to sleep at a reasonable hour — so we can do it all over again tomorrow!
