Your connection to your children through love, nurturing and guidance is a strong predictor of how successful they will be. It could mean the difference between a happy child and an insecure one. Bonding with your child is very important because it helps improve their self-confidence, promote their sense of belonging and communicates to them that they’re valuable. We can get so caught up in our daily routine; work school runs and church that we may forget to pay attention to the emotional needs of our children. So, here are a few ways to help strengthen your relationship with your children
- Play
Play is the language of children and so, it makes sense to speak to them through this method. You can connect with them by helping them see the fun side of things, especially areas they aren’t keen on. For example, you could get them to do and appreciate house chores by creating a game around it. Give them a bottle of Morning Fresh dishwashing liquid and a stack of dirty dishes and get them to sing a song as they wash. This way, they have fun while doing household chores and you get to spend quality time with them.
- Physical Touch
Studies have shown that humans are able to identify specific emotions of love, compassion and gratitude through physical touch and this plays a major role in forming a strong connection with your child. As simple as a hug is, it can increase your child’s self-esteem, make them feel valuable, safe and teaches them to develop self-empathy. Give your child a hug today and let them know that they are loved.
- Cooking
Studies have shown that involving kids in preparing meals at home helps foster family bonding and even reduces behaviour problems. Although having kids in the kitchen can be a bit messy and time-consuming, it helps them improve their physical development, learn the crucial life skill of cooking and you get to spend some alone time with your children.
- Reading
What better way to develop your child’s mind and spend quality time with them than through books? Reading to your child helps to build their listening skill and imagination, teaches them about people and relationships. It helps them develop a love for books which will strengthen their vocabulary and most importantly, it promotes increased communication with your child. Set aside a few minutes each evening to read to your child or tell them a story and you’re well on your way to strengthening your relationship with them.