“And most of the failures in parent-child relationships, from my observation, begin when the child begins to acquire a mind and a will of its own, to make independent decisions and to question the omnipotence or the wisdom of the parent.”
-Sydney J. Harris
Parent-child relationship is the purest relationship, but it’s a spanner in the works. Parenting is the most fulfilling work we’ll ever do but it’s not as easy as it seems. There are challenges that are thrown at every step. Parents always want what’s best for their kids and a good relationship between parent and child will help ensure positive results for children.
Importance of Positive Parent-Child Relationship
Parent-Child Relationship is the one that lays the foundation for the child’s personality, life choices and overall behaviour for the rest of his life. The foundation of this relationship lasts the entire adulthood of a child. Hence, nurturing this relationship positively can have a deep impact on the physical, emotional and social development of the child.
- Young children who experience and grow with a secure and healthy bonding with their parents stand a better chance of having happy and content relationships later in life.
- Children who have a secure relationship with both or atleast one of the parents learns to have better control over emotions under stress and in difficult situations.
- It promotes the child’s mental, linguistic and emotional development alongwith optimistic and confident social behaviours.
- Involvement in the child’s day-to-day life, without hovering, can lay the foundation for better social and academic skills.
- As a result of secure attachment with parents, children tend to have a healthy social, emotional, cognitive, and motivational development.
- Children also gain strong problem-solving skills when they have a positive relationship with their parents.
Strengthening the Relationship between Parent and Child
There’s neither an instructional manual nor a “one-size-fits-all” approach for parenting. We evolve as our kids grow. There are many ways which can strengthen and nurture a positive parent-child relationship:
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Always be eager to listen
Make eye contact while having a conversation with your child. Treat every interaction as an opportunity to connect with warm expressions and eagerness to listen.
Make them understand boundaries, rules & consequences
Talk to your children about what you expect of them and make sure they understand. It may need enforcement and reminders but patience is the key.
Listen and empathise with your child
Acknowledge your child’s feelings, show them you understand and reassure that you are there to help them whenever they have problems. Be always open to listen to them. Help them recognise their feelings and express them correctly by listening to them carefully.
Express your love
A simple “I love you” can do a lot to strengthen a relationship. Say “I love you” to your kids every day, no matter what age they are. Even on difficult days let your child know that you didn’t appreciate their behaviour but you love them unconditionally.
Spend quality time with your child
Spend some quality time with your children by playing with them. It’s not only fun for them but it’ll take away some of your stress. Playing with them not only help them in developing language skills, emotions, creativity and social skills, it also helps to strengthen the bond.
Eat meals together
A family that eats together, stays together. Eating together as a family sets the stage and provide ample opportunity for all sorts of conversations. Encourage a “no phones, no tablets” policy at the dining table and enjoy each other’s company.
Spend one on one time with children
If you have more than one children, make it a point to spend individual time with each one of them. This quality individual time with your child will not only strengthen your bond but it’ll build their self-esteem and lets them know they are valued.
The best part about being a parent and parenting is that your children haven’t witnessed and experienced your childhood. Am I right? Therefore, their childhood does not necessarily have to be like yours. You can define your own chemistry and maintain a positive parent-child relationship with your children. You can set your own rules and have your own parameters, with a positive approach.
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