Creating a healthy family relationship takes effort. How do we instil and maintain a positive attitude between family members? Here are some tips to help you get started!
1. Encourage open communication
The key to a healthy relationship is the willingness to be open and honest with each other, therefore encourage your child to do so by creating a safe space for them to talk and express to you.
Ask questions about their day and their opinion. A simple ‘How was your day?’ would be a good start. If your child shows you their art, you can say, ‘Good job! It’s beautiful. I notice that you coloured the sky purple. Is there anything you’re trying to express through the purple sky?’
If your child is facing difficulties, allow them to reflect and discuss solutions together. Communication is about reciprocation; make sure that you talk to them about your day too.
While you communicate, pay attention to their non-verbal expressions. Remember, an ‘okay’ doesn’t always mean ‘okay’. Give your child a hug, offer advice and words of wisdom, perhaps a pat in the back too. Comfort and be present so your child will know that, as a parent, you are dependable and understanding.
2. Be a guide through their life
As children grow up, they will develop their sense of self and personality. Start imparting your child with good mannerisms and attitude at home!
Set ground rules within your family. These rules might include speaking respectfully to their siblings, helping each other when in need, and ensuring that everyone in your household has responsibilities around the house.
You may approach these responsibilities by asking your child to keep their toys neatly at a designated place after playing, allowing them to help you with household chores such as making their bed and washing dishes. This will help to establish their sense of responsibility from an early age.
Remember that as a family unit, you are a team, so work together to achieve your family’s goal!
3. Spend quality time together
Working parents find it challenging to spend time with their children as they are exhausted after a day’s worth of work, but your presence as a parent is vital for your child’s mental development. Don’t be a stranger—get to know your child by spending some quality time together at home!
You can organise game nights, do arts & crafts, exercise, bake cakes and cookies, or read your favourite books together!
Check out the infographics below for more inspiration!
You can also check out our latest Q-dees Home Activities instalment for more fun quizzes and arts & crafts-related activities!
4. Lead by example
Monkey see, monkey do.
A child starts to mimic our words and actions early on, hence why you should start setting examples by modelling the message you want to educate your child!
Say the magic words ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to your child and others around you. Teach your child about accountability by being honest to them and apologising sincerely. Besides that, if you want to instil good reading habits in your child, you can read a book every night together.
5. Rewarding with the greatest reward
Oftentimes reward comes in monetary or material forms, but the best reward for your child is to compliment them.
When your child succeeds in overcoming simple problems or completing simple tasks, such as cleaning up after playing with toys, saying ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ to others, and adhering to their playing-and-learning schedules, give them a high five. Say, ‘Good job!’ or ‘Keep up the good work!’
If your child is still striving to learn and do their best, give some words of encouragement! Say, ‘It’s okay, you’re improving, so do your best!’ or ‘Don’t give up. Try and try again!’
With your reassurances, your child will become more empowered to try new things. They will not see failure as an adversary but as an opportunity to grow and become a better person. Perhaps, one day your child will don a few hats like Albert Einstein, a world-renown physicist whose hobby among others is playing the violin!
We hope that you will have a splendid time bonding and creating memories together while fostering a healthy relationship.
Reference List
Good family relationships: how to build them https://raisingchildren.net.au/grown-ups/family-life/routines-rituals-relationships/good-family-relationships
Nonverbal communication: body language and tone of voice https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/connecting-communicating/communicating/nonverbal-communication
Family Relationship: Why is it important and how to build it? https://www.momjunction.com/articles/family-relationship_00460134/
Child Development: Ages and Stages https://www.choc.org/primary-care/ages-stages/
Albert Einstein’s hobbies and those of 9 other physicists revealed https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/albert-einstein-s-hobbies-and-those-of-9-other-physicists-revealed-1.2711586