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Bond
with your Child by doing a Fun Activity
I believe
in doing enjoyable things with your child to
bond with them. Going to museums they like.
Playing ball with them. Building a toy
airplane with your son. Making a sweater or
dress with your daughter if she wants to.
This gives your child lasting good memories.
Additionally, when you are doing a fun
activity with your child you can talk to
them in a non-threatening environment about
what is going on at school or what is
happening in their life in general. And
remember there are times and places when
it's not best to ask such questions.
Example- during homework. This is because
this can be a stressful time for your child,
or you if you continually tell them to stay
on task during homework. You also might not
want to ask questions just as you come home
from a hard day at work. You don't want to
be distracted by thoughts of work. You want
to be mentally present. Sometimes parents
ask questions to their kids and the kids
think their parents aren't really listening.
So they figure why bother answering a
question fully next time. In addition to
being mentally present when you talk to your
child, you also want to be calm and
comfortable. Your child should be calm and
comfortable as well. So avoid asking
personal questions when friends (yours and
theirs) are around, it could embarrass your
child.
Let us say you
want to ask your child this, "So how are you
doing making up with your bestfriend?" It's
better to ask this question when your child
is relaxed, not when they're busy reading,
just got home from a hard day at school, or
had a bad day at soccer practice. Plan a fun
activity where it's more likely they will
answer this with more than an "okay." Ask it
casually as you are making cookies or
sailing their small boat in the park lake.
Or surprise them with a trip to the ice
cream store. Walk there and as you do ask
them about what you want to know. Find out
what's happening in your child's life. Get
the low down. Get more informed. If you find
out they're being teased by other kids at
school this might be the reason they've
stopped liking their violin lessons or why
they don't like going to school anymore. You
can give your own example of how you were
teased as a kid; how it affected you; and
how you solved it or how you should have
solved it. Build a bond with your child now.
You'll be glad you did later. Last point to
be made- A child wants to know their parents
care even though they seem to act like they
don't care one way or the other. But please
don't be TOO involved in your child's life
in all aspects. Let your child have space.
If you have a child who is
argumentative, rude, out of control,
defiant, difficult... or has ODD try the
Total
Transformation
parenting program. You can read reviews for it on my site at
Harmony-in-the-Home.
For
articles, tips, arts and crafts, children's
book and movie reviews and a monthly Science
Day follow my
Parenting Blog at
parentingtipsandmore.blogspot.com |
