How to Build a Great Relationship with Your Child

The biggest quest in parenthood is building a relationship with your children. And not just any relationship but a good, positive one. Building a relationship like this is important as it fosters their emotional and social growth. It’s every parent’s responsibility to build this parent and child relationship and maintain it as they grow up.

Telling them that you love them will never be enough if your actions say otherwise. Putting in time and effort is the secret to building a relationship with your children. This gives both of you the chance to get to know each other. A positive parent and child relationship nurtures curiosity,independence, self-confidence, and better decision-making skills. You can develop and maintain a positive relationship with children by giving them opportunities to learn. The key to a positive relationship are letting them know that you care, keeping them safe, and treating them with respect.

Building a relationship with your children means that you are involved in their life. Having strong communication with them is also vital. Here are more ways to help build and develop a great relationship with your child.

Be involved in their lives

You can improve the relationship you have with your child by seeing eye to eye with them. Get on their level and connect with them in an age-appropriate way. If your child is still a toddler, get on the floor and play with them. If your child is in their teens, join in the activity that they deem fun. Be on a level that your child is familiar with. This helps them bond with you and like you more.

Always make family time a regular priority. Simply eating meals together will help you get to know each other by having conversations while eating. Go to the movies together or to family gatherings. Make time for fun  activities to do together so you can get some quality time in..

Spending time together as a family is essential. However, you should also set aside one-on-one time dedicated for each of your children. Set aside time to focus on each child individually. Find a shared hobby – play piano together, draw, or dance. This time spent on each child can help you focus on their individual strength and talents.

Maintain Positive Communication

As a parent, you have the responsibility to build a foundation of trust with your children. Your children need someone in their life whom they can rely on. Show integrity. When you promise to do something, make sure you do it. Keep your word. This helps your child build trust and security in you. Keep in mind that trust also means respecting your child’s privacy. Keep their confidences when they share with you.

Another important aspect of building a positive relationship with your children is listening to them in an understanding way. When your child does have something to say to you, actively listen without distractions. Make sure your children know that you care about what they have to say. Show them that you are there whenever they need support.

There’s a rule called the “3 F’s of effective parenting”. Be FIRM. Be FAIR. Be FRIENDLY. These three things will help you discipline and protect the relationship you have with your kids. Be firm and tell them the consequences when they have done something wrong and consistently apply them. Be fair and make sure that the punishment fits the offence. Be friendly and speak in a steady yet polite tone. As much as possible, avoid raising your voice and simply explain what they have done wrong. When they have done well, don’t forget to praise them and give them words of encouragement.

Avoid Favoritism and tolerating a bad attitude

Parents sometimes use a reward system when they want to easily win their child’s affection. To effectively control their children’s behavior, they may often give them whatever they  desire. This might be an effective way to make your children happy for the moment, but it doesn’t work in the long run. Giving them what they want all the time will make them demanding, spoiled, and entitled. So instead of giving them what they want straight away, reward them for the times they’ve done something right.

Respect Begets Respect

We want to be respected all the time, right? So as parents, if we want to be respected by our children, we should also learn to respect them. Respect must be mutual. But parents almost always forget this because we know we’re supposed to be the one leading them. Teaching your children respect with you will show them how to treat others with respect, too.

Be there for them

Your children grow up with you, learn from you, and get their values from you. Like a plant, your children need your constant nurturing and encouragement to see themselves as someone who’s valuable and capable of good things. Show them that you are on their side. If you have to correct and criticize them, make it constructive. Encourage them to do what they want and guide them on the right path.

It takes time, effort and patience to build a good and positive relationship with kids. And your efforts will be worth it because it will mold your child into a decent human being you can be proud of. As your children grow up, they will spend most of their time in school. The attitude they have at home will reflect in the personality they have in school. A daycare in Jackson is a wonderful learning center for your young ones. They have friendly teachers who also build good relationships with children and their parents. ABC Academy is a great first step for your children to see the world because they truly care and want the best for your child.