Simple ways you can build a closer bond with your children this week

When building a bond with children, it’s good to remember that it is a two-way street. We sometimes think it has to solely be up to us to keep our relationship with our children strong by finding activities to do, creating crafts they may like, sharing our childhood memories with them, taking them to fun places, and so on. Basically sharing with them pieces of us as little building blocks. This is not a bad thing as that is how we build relationships with people. Sharing what is important to us, what we have learned, and things we have discovered. We do that with friends and family all the time. We talk about old memories with our spouse. We take our friends to restaurants we have recently discovered. We share books and recipes. But, like with any good relationship, it goes both ways. We need to be the recipient of that sharing in order for the other person to also build a bond with us. We need to let them tell us stories and share what they have discovered. This is what we are going to focus on for this #WeeklyKidChallenge, letting our kids connect with us.

Simple things to do this week.

• Let them choose
• Let them decide
• Let them pick
• Let them take you on an adventure
• Let them tell you stories
• Let them read their favorite book to you
• Let them tell you about their interests while you listen intently
• Ask them questions about their favorite things
• Let them pick out a meal and help cook it
• Let them teach you something
• Let them tell you jokes
• Play their favorite games
• Let them talk, and talk, and talk

Other important aspects to remember when building a bond with your children.

• Be careful to not be insulting to them or what interests them
• Try not to be easily distracted
• Be encouraging
• Be open to what your kids want to do (within reason, bungie jumping at 11 may not be a good idea)
• Try not to cut it short, plan for the time to spend with them

I would love to hear what your children come up with. Let me know on here, FaceBook, or use #WeeklyKidChallenge on Twitter. I hope you guys enjoy your week!