Did you know that parent-child bonding activities give teens a sense of safety and security?
Whether you’re raising a toddle or a teenager, taking time to hang with your kids and appreciating their individuality can be highly beneficial. Don’t know where to start? We’ve got you covered! Continue to read to learn more.
Say ”I Love You” Every Day
You may feel like your actions already show how much you love your children, but telling them ”I love you” daily is an extra reminder that you support them unconditionally.
Sure, your child may sometimes be stubborn or do something you don’t like, and reasonably you won’t feel like showing your love for them. However, it’s in these difficult moments that they need to hear you love them the most.
In conclusion, an ”I love you” can have a huge impact, long-term-wise, on your relationship with your kid.
Set Boundaries
Kids need guidance and structure in their lives. Have a conversation with your children and make clear what you expect of them (e.g., make their beds daily, keep their rooms organized, help you set the table for dinner).
If they ignore these rules, then discipline them with age-appropriate consequences. It’s not a fun thing to do, but being a parent means doing what’s best for your kid, and ultimately, this will teach them self-control and the importance of responsible behavior.
Show Empathy
The best way you can build a relationship with anyone is by listening. It’s no different when it comes to your kids. So, acknowledge their feelings and let them know you support them with whatever they need.
By trying to see things from your kids’ perspective, you’ll show you listen and empathize, fostering mutual respect in your relationship.
Be Available and Distraction-Free
Set aside 10 minutes a day to talk to your kid and make sure nothing is distracting you (no cellphone, no tv). This is a good communication habit, which will make your child feel that they’re genuinely a priority in your life.
Ultimately, this quality time together is key to a great family relationship.
Eat Meals Together
Setting aside time to eat together as a family is a great idea if you want to have great chats and bonding time with your kids.
When you do it, remind everyone to take a break from their phones and other electronic devices to ”live in the moment”, eating and enjoying each other’s company.
At the end of the day, mealtime is a great opportunity not only for you to bond with your children but to teach them how important it is to eat a healthy and balanced diet.
Show Affection
Attachment parenting is a relatively new philosophy (based on the attachment theory) that emphasizes the importance of emotional and physical infant-parent bonds to foster both child and parent confidence.
While this concept is focused on baby-parent relationships, showing love to your tweens and teens also matters. After all, loving affection and human touch are needed for healthy neurological and emotional development.
So, ensure your child receives hugs and cuddles from you throughout the day. If your kid is not a big hugger, you can smile, make eye contact with them, greet them with warm expressions, and encourage genuine interaction. Think of every interaction as a chance to bond with your kid.
Create Parent-Child Rituals
If you have more than one kid, try spending one-on-one time with each of them. This personal moment with your children is beneficial: you’ll make them feel valued, strengthen your parent-child bond, and even boost your kids’ self-esteem.
Some parents organize special hangouts with their children to have that one-on-one chance to get to know them better and create a stronger bond. It doesn’t have to be an expensive occasion: you can try going for a walk around the neighborhood, watching a movie at home, or maybe taking a trip to the playground. The point is: take time to celebrate your children’s individuality.
On a special occasion (e.g., after achieving a good grade on a test, getting a driver’s license, winning a sports competition), you might consider giving them a present. You can buy awesome gifts for teens through subscription boxes.
Mutual Respect Matters
Children can be extremely annoying sometimes and can definitely make mistakes. Yet, parents need to keep treating kids with respect, speaking to them in a loving and calm manner.
Sure, maybe they have done something that requires discipline, but losing your mind and shouting won’t be helpful. In fact, corporal punishment and yelling have been shown to harm the relationship quality between parents and children.
Also, good manners matter, even at home. Remind your children to say ”thank you” and ”please” when they forget to do so, but most importantly, try to lead by example.
In the end, treating each other with courtesy and respect will make your home a pleasant place to live and will bring you closer together.
Parent-Child Bonding
Unquestionably, being a mum is challenging, and sometimes, things can get overwhelming.
It can be very tempting to spend time on the couch binge-watching a tv series after a long day at work, but taking some time for parent-child bonding activities can be beneficial for you and your kids.
Sure, you may not feel the ”instant gratification” feeling you’d get from watching a tv series episode. Still, you’ll see your kids grow into confident people with better emotional regulation and a greater sense of self-agency. So, it’s worth it.
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