Creative Child February 2018 | Page 7

From the moment a child is born, they want their parents love and attention and it helps form their confidence and identity develop as they recieve it. As they mature, the bond strengthens through shared experiences and by spending quality time together. Here are some easy ways to strengthen the parent-child bond. Play together. The simplest way to bond with your child is to spend time playing with them. Play comes naturally to children and is a great way to spend quality time with them. Play teaches them life skills such as how to share, resolve conflict, and how to follow rules. It is also a great way to bond with your child. By playing peek-a-boo, tossing a ball in the backyard, playing house, or making crafts, you are bonding with your child because you are sharing in their joy of those activities. Playtime gives your child a safe place to share their feelings and express worries. By spending time doing what they enjoy, you are showing them they are important and you are there for them. Find a mutual interest. What is your child interested in? If your child enjoys reading, create a two person book club and discuss the books as you read. If your child loves football, make game night a family event and cheer on your team. If your child is interested in dinosaurs, visit a museum. Since some of my lifelong friends grew from playing sports or participating in activities together, the same can be assumed when we are talking about parent-child bonding. If you truly enjoy activities together, a stronger bond will naturally form. 6