How to Have a Strong Relationship With Your Kids?

Having a strong relationship with your children can definitely be challenging to most –if not all– parents. That’s just part of the process and learning ways to start implementing a stronger bond will help create a healthier relationship between parents and their children.

Beyond Basic Needs

A fixed natural urge for parents as a start mainly focuses on their children’s basic needs. For example: supplying food and water, keeping them clean, and providing a roof above their heads. However, it is important to know that children’s needs go beyond the basic ones that we all know and provide, it is also very important for the child to feel safe at home and feel connected to their parents. Satisfying these needs and reaching this connection is a huge part of enhancing and strengthening the relationship between the parents and the children.

Listeners and Solvers

It is very important for the parents to talk to each other about their children’s problems and try to reach a solution even if they have any other disagreement happening at the same time. They should put it aside for now and focus on their children’s problems and figure out on doing what’s best for them in that matter. On the long run, this can provide a small door where children feel heard, cared for, and safe to continue discussing problems they have with their parents regarding any emotions they might be feeling.

Quality Time

Every child also needs to have quality time with their parents, maybe have a fixed date once a week or once a month and just enjoy each other’s company. Some examples of quality time spent between parents and children to create stronger connections:

Play dates
Time to talk and reflect on everything that has been happening
Taking a walk
Reading a book together
Having a movie night

Comforting uneasy emotions and thoughts
Reinforcing positive behavior
Creating or working on something together that you both enjoy

Let’s talk about “play time”

Play time is very important for children because at that time, they begin to see their inner child within their parents. This happens when parents genuinely start to play along with their child and not just to pass time. This therefore builds a connection between them. It would be even more impactful if parents chose to play games that they used to enjoy playing as kids, it will make them more genuine and present while playing which will strengthen the connection and bond created between their children.

It Takes Two to Tango

Any child needs the presence of both parents equally. Any lack caused by one caretaker can cause long-term effects for the child; hence, a healthy presence of both parents provides a balanced lifestyle for the child and creates a stronger bond as a family. Most of what we see these days revolves around this typical scenario: the mother is more present and available to the child more than the father in terms of feeding, changing diapers, playing, etc., and the father occasionally joins in. However, in an ideal world, both parents should communicate and chip in with the areas they consider as their strong suits to be able to provide the love, care, and support their child needs in every domain.

A word from O7

Finally, remember to always be available for your children with all of your heart. Remember to always talk to them and connect with them in every possible way. If you are having difficulties connecting with your child or even with your partner after having children, know that it’s normal to feel so. Take the step to create stronger relations between your families and connect now with one of our therapists! They will be able to support you throughout your journey.

How to Have a Strong Relationship With Your Kids?

Explore

Resources

More