Saturday, June 25, 2011

Bonding Time With Children

By Anya Shiela Richards


Most of us have fond memories of special times we spent with our parents when we were kids. As parents, you can do many things with your young children that will create an everlasting bond between you and them. Young parents are often on a tight budget, but fun activities they can share with their children need not be costly. With a little bit of time management and a lot of motivation, you can easily find ways in which to bond with your children, before it's too late.

The key to bonding with young children is to know that anything, however trivial, that you do to show that you respect your children and their achievements will be etched in their memories forever. Consistently rewarding good behavior in a certain way will create a lasting memory. Something as simple as framing your five-year-old daughter's drawings will not only enhance her self-confidence immensely; it also demonstrates how much she matters to you.

One aspect of bonding with young children is to involve them in the preparation of special treats. If you decide to go on a picnic, let them help prepare the picnic basket, for instance. Children love to be involved and to feel useful. Allow them to help you in the kitchen when you are making something simple such as cupcakes. Use simple cupcake recipes so your children can help mix the batter. Remember to be consistent. Make it a family tradition to bake cupcakes for Christmas every year, for instance. Encourage your children to imagine cupcake decorating ideas and show them how they can make them. Baking and decorating cupcakes is a fun activity that children of all ages can take part in, and it's an excellent way to establish long-lasting family memories.

Bonding with your children is important, and it is easy to do if you concentrate on consistently showing them that they are important as persons and that their ideas and feelings matter to you. Earn you child's trust by taking the time to listen to him or her. Always explain any decisions you make that affect your children in any way, and be open to hearing their points of view. While you don't have to defend yourself or your decisions to your children, it is essential that they understand that you value their input and have taken their feelings into consideration.

Every child needs a little guidance and punishment is an unavoidable fact of raising children. Believe it or not, punishment can be an excellent way to form a bond with your children. Being gentle and consistent in both your expectations and punishment can be very constructive and teach your child skills that they will carry on into adulthood. Although it is imperative that your child feel that the punishment is effectively unenjoyable, it's equally vital that they understand their punishment and feel it was just for the crime. By respecting your children even when angry you are proving that you love and care for them, which ultimately makes for lasting bonds.




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