5 Habits to Strengthen Your Relationship With Your Child

We all long for those moments of closeness with our children, moments that soften our hearts.

Connecting is just as important to us parents as it is to our children. When our relationship is strong, it is also beautiful, so we receive as much as we give. That makes parenting worth all our efforts, sweat and tears.

This connection is also the only reason why children will willingly follow our rules. Children who feel strongly connected to their parents want to cooperate. They trust us that we know what is best for them and that we are on their side. I often hear from parents that everything changes once they focus on connecting, not just correcting.

We're just people, though.

There are days when all we can do is satisfy most of our children's basic needs: feed them, wash them, keep an encouraging tone, hug and put them to bed at a reasonable time, so we can start all over again the next day. Considering that being a parent is the hardest job on earth - and we often do this in our spare time after being separated from each other during the day - the only way to keep a strong bond with children Ours is to build daily connecting habits. What kind of habits?

1. Aim to reach 12 hugs (or physical approaches) each day

Embrace your baby early in the morning, when you say goodbye, when you say goodbye, at bedtime and often between all these moments.

If your preteen or even teenager refuses your urge to hug him when he walks to the door, realize that when it comes to older children, you need to sneak smartly into this connection. Pour a cold drink into his glass and talk to him when you give him a massage. (Do you think you're doing more than necessary?

It's a very simple way to find out what happened in his life today. And you'll often be satisfied if you put this method at the top of your list of priorities).

2. Connect before transition periods

It is quite difficult for children to make the transition from one thing to another.

If you looked the little one in the eye, told him his name and played with him for a while until he chuckled, you would fill his batteries and you could assure him that he had the necessary inner resources. to self-manage when going through a change.

For example, mornings are much easier to manage if before you get your child out of bed, you squat next to him for five minutes to help him make the transition from sleep to dressing and brushing his teeth.

3. Play

Laughter and domestic play keep you connected to the child by stimulating the endorphin and oxytocin levels of both.

Making play a daily habit gives your child a chance to manage their anxieties and upsets that would otherwise make them feel disconnected and give them more chances to have difficult times. which erupts.

And play helps children want to cooperate. Which of these two do you think will work best:

"Come to the table now!"

or

"Little gorilla, it's time for breakfast! Look, you have beetles and bananas on your cereal! ”

4. Turn off gadgets when interacting with your little one

Stop them. Your child will remember for the rest of his life that he was important enough to his parents that they turned off their phones, radios, televisions, and computers to listen to him.

This is especially important when you're in the car, as the lack of eye contact in this space decreases the pressure, so children (and adults) are more likely to communicate.

5. Spend special time

Do this every day, 15 minutes with each child. Alternate the things the little one wants with the ones you want to do. When it's his day, all you have to do is be full of love and let him lead and decide what to do in 15 minutes.

In your day, resist the temptation to divide your time into different activities. Instead, play therapeutic games to help the child with any issues that are important to him.