Being a parent is a truly special feeling. When you are blessed enough to be in this situation, it is important that you make the most of it. One of the best ways to do this is to put more focus on your relationship. Unfortunately, having a great bond with your kids is not something that comes on its own. You are going to have to work and put effort in to have a really good connection, it’s also something that can’t be forced – a tricky balance to strike. If you want to know how you can make improvements in this department, here are some ideas that could help.
Knowing When to Treat and When to Discipline
One of the main roles of being a parent is knowing when to apply discipline to your kids. This does not mean that you have to be nasty or overly strict. What it means is you need to recognize the areas where your child needs education. It is perfectly possible to be able to apply discipline in a fair and loving way, so make sure you are doing this as a parent. Overuse of discipline is just going to create resentment in your child. So be sure to apply only when necessary.
Of course, you also need to make sure that you are caring and loving towards your child. Just as you apply discipline, being able to treat your child is important too. For example, if you see that they have been putting extra effort into school or their chores, you might want to give them a small reward. Handcrafted ice cream for your kid is going to really make them feel that sense of achievement. Although this might seem like a small reward to some, it gives the child the right idea of doing the right thing – and that you see the efforts they are making.
Making Time for Bonding
There is no doubt that you are going to spend a lot of time with your children. Even if you have a busy work schedule, there will be hours on end that you get to spend with one another. However, you need to ensure you are using this time for bonding. This means going and making memories with one another instead of just being in each other’s company. Doing fun activities will likely be the most enjoyable thing for your children, so be sure to ask them for their ideas.
Showing an Interest in Their Personal Life
There is often a lot that parents don’t know about their children – depending on the age of the child, this could help encourage independence and the idea that they are their own person. Boundaries are healthy after all, and it is unnecessary for a parent to know every single thing that a child does. For younger children, they often change so quickly that parents can easily struggle to keep up too. However, you should try and show as much interest in your children’s personal life as you can. Ask about friends, school and their interests as much as you can – remember to withhold judgment as much as possible. If you are showing more interest, they will feel like they can talk to you more freely – however, if everything they tell you results in a criticism or morale lesson, they will quickly stop trying to engage you.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.