Connectedness helps families develop a sense of belonging. However, it can be challenging to sit down with everyone and craft quality interactions. There are way too many distractions in our society today. You, as a parent, have to navigate an ever-changing world and culture. Here are 4 tips that you can try this week with your family. Start here and allow for patience and grace.
Create Tech-Free Zones and Times - Designate a time when all electronic devices must be turned off. Our society has become truly dependent on technology for many things. While these devices aren’t necessarily the culprit, they can easily reduce quality time within families. When you intentionally let everyone take a break from technology, you are sending the message that your relationships matter. You want to invest in face-to-face interactions. You value the conversations you have with each of your family members. Your children will also learn different ways to make their lives richer other than being on social media or video games. These can also consume the adults. It’s better to have this same rule apply to everyone.
Engage in Play With Your Children - Play itself enhances brain growth and development. Research shows that the regions of the brain necessary for learning, memory, and affection are activated when children engage in play. Parents can also benefit from this in so many ways. There is an element of relaxation, excitement, or happiness that can come as a result of it. For older children or teenagers, it is important to ask them what their interests are, and by participating in these activities parents can show that they care. This is perhaps one of the easiest ways to nurture your relationship with your children.
Practice Active Listening - There is a significant difference when it comes to active listening. You’re not simply hearing what your children are saying. This kind of skill calls for outside-the-box thinking. You prepare yourself beforehand to pay attention to what the children are saying. On top of that, you make a deal with yourself, though internally, that you would hold off on your opinions. You give them all the time they need to talk about their side of the story. And because you are actively listening, you can reflect back to them everything they’ve said. This becomes possible when parents come into conversations with the intent of understanding their children’s points of view.
Learn From The Challenges - It takes repeated execution and practice of these tips for your relationship to grow. This is a great start. When you face pushback from your children, it doesn’t mean you have to end your efforts. You can always evaluate and ask for everyone’s feedback. Other members of your family may have solutions. Learn from one another.
About the author: Joy Acaso is our own Parenting Coach at Night atch Childcare Center. She has over 17 years of experience in the mental health field. She is available to answer your questions and provide resources that can help your family thrive.
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