To nurture your connection with your child, heed these tips to better foster a bond that’s focused purely on togetherness, support and fun. 

1. Play Together

Amidst the hustle of day-to-day responsibilities, it’s easy to forget that you were once a playful, silly child not unlike your son or daughter. Children at any age (yes, even teenagers) benefit from play. Playing with your child generates positive feelings for both of you, but it also helps them to feel a sense of unity and closeness as you work together to build important social, emotional and logical skills.

There are many ways to add a little more playfulness into your relationship with your child. You can get down to their level and join in their imaginative world, play a board game, make a few lighthearted jokes, plan an outing to the park or even search the web for “pool builders near me” and add some built-in fun to your own backyard. 

2. Read Together

A good book brings people together. Studies have shown that reading aloud to your child stimulates the parts of his or her brain that cultivate interpersonal connections. Reading together, whether it’s nightly or in alternative installments, creates a space where things are slow, loving and intimate in the otherwise fairly chaotic world of family, work and school life. 

To further bond with your child, ask them periodic questions about what you’re reading. Stop to talk about how they would handle a situation that a character is faced with, or share in the emotion of a good story. 

3. Listen Well

Your child, no matter their age, has a rich inner world waiting to be explored. When you set aside some designated time, eliminate all distractions and really ask your child meaningful questions with the intent to understand and hear them, it lets them know you’re genuinely interested in what their thoughts, feelings and experiences are. 

4. Teach Them Something New

A lot of time is spent learning times tables or spelling words, but your child could benefit from learning something new and fun–and you have just the skill set to make it happen. Maybe you bake world class cinnamon rolls, or maybe you were a go kart champion during your formative years. Whatever it is, choose a pleasant, low stakes activity to do together. It could even become a shared interest. 

5. Have Adventures

In order for your child to look back on their childhood with fondness, you need to create experiences that will form good memories in the future. Go out of your way to explore the world with your child by setting off for an impromptu road trip, checking out a new exhibit at a local museum, going on a scenic hike or checking out a nearby oddity or natural wonder.

6. Make It a Date

For any relationship, consistency is key. When you make time for your child, regardless of how busy you are, your child will feel like a priority. When a child feels important, they’re more likely to experience trust, safety and security. Try to set up a weekly or monthly time for just the two of you to enjoy one another’s company by engaging in a shared interest together. 

As well, it’s important to show up for your children in their own calendar engagements, too. Make time to sit in the front row at their games, to show up with flowers at their performances and congratulate them for their science fair ribbons. The more often you’re able to demonstrate for your child that you want to meet them where they are, and demonstrate your support in times where it’s all about them, the closer they will feel to you–and the more you will understand and connect with them, too. 

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