Improve Your Relationship With Your Child

The relationship I have with both my children I would say is good. We communicate well (most of the time), they listen to me (when they want or need to) and they co-operate (without me shouting). I enjoy watching them grow and develop their minds and I love the parent/child relationship we have. But not all parent/child  relationships are easy and they all require a lot of hard work and time.

If you want to improve your relationship with your child why not try out the following:

1.  Take time to talk daily about your child’s day. Listen when they are talking to you and show you are interested.
2. Set clear rules and boundaries together and let your child make a few up themselves. Talk about the consequences of rule breaking so your child knows what will happen if they do.
3. Recognise and acknowledge your child’s feelings and notice when their behaviour changes. Changes in behaviour mean they are feeling something (good or bad).
4. Give them responsibility for their age and praise them when they do something right or when they do something without asking.
5. Think about what and how you say things to them and prepare them for what is going to happen next, ‘In 10 minutes we will …..’
6. Be consistent. Having a stable routine and structure is key to a child’s life as it is to many of us.

Have you any more to add? If so, please leave a comment so we can share parenting ideas.

8 Comments for this entry

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  Theresa Brosnan

  October 11th, 2011 on 10:18 am

  Excellent advice Naomi. Being in tune with your child’s normal behaviour and body language means you’ll be more receptive to changes and pick up on how they’re feeling more quickly. Thanks for a great article. Theresa
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  Naomi

  October 12th, 2011 on 6:35 am

  Exactly! I think if we do all of these things we can have a fruitful relationship with our children. Thank you for your comment Theresa.
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  emily

  October 12th, 2011 on 11:19 pm

  I would like to add the importance of teaching to listen and be considerate to those outside the household to. So that way they understand they don’t need to just follow rules only at home because you say so but that it is a part of life and how we should deal with each other. Some might think this is a given result if teaching the other steps but it really isn’t. I’ve seen plenty of children act one way at home because they know that’s the rule and do a complete 360 when they leave because the importance of that lesson not being taught or emphasize. Be respectful and kind to all you meet and things will go well for you.
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  Naomi Richards

  October 13th, 2011 on 7:08 am

  I completely agree. Children do need to learn how to behave outside of the home. They obviously need to show courtesy and respect for others. As always these things can be taught at a yung age. Emily thank you for your thoughts.
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  Chris Spradlin

  October 17th, 2011 on 1:40 pm

  great post naomi! BE CONSISTENT…that is truly the key. hope your doing well my friend!
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  Naomi

  October 17th, 2011 on 2:07 pm

  Thank you Chris for your comment. I have been offline for a while but now back and busy.
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  susie@newdaynewlesson

  October 20th, 2011 on 7:51 pm

  Good advice. I would change the word praise for encouragement. Encouragement is finding their strengths and giving them positive clear feedback while raise is too general.

  Example:

  Praise: That’s a beautiful picture you drew.

  Encouragement: You drew that flower with so many different colors that go well together.

  With encouragement the kids know what it was they did that was successful. With praise, they have to guess what it was you thought was good or liked.
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  Naomi Richards

  October 20th, 2011 on 9:04 pm

  Susie, thank you for your comment. We call what you call encouragement descriptive praise and it is something that we encourage parents to do with their cihldren so they know what they are being praised for. When I wrote praise I meant with the descriptive bit! Thanks.