How To Be Friends With Your Child? – an important parenting tip by Mitesh Mehta
Children don’t need More things. The best toys a child can have is a parent who gets down on the floor and plays with them. – Bruce Perry
Parents love to be a major part of their child’s life. Due to the busy schedule followed by both parents and children, a feeling of being distant from one another takes place. They want their child to share everything with them. Considering the advanced generation and the gap between the parents and children, this hardly seems possible. But one can never stop trying when it concerns their young ones.
The best way for parents to get along is to be friends with their children. But is it possible? Yes, to a great extent, parents can be friends with their little ones. How? Well, here are some ways that can bring you closer to your child and help you share a fantastic friendship.
Developing friendship between parents and children
1. Give them your time.
Besides love and care, time and attention are the basic requirements of children. Make sure you take out enough time for your little one. You have to put effort and make sure you spend time together deliberately. It may be as simple as accompanying them to a place or having meals together. Your child should feel your presence and know that you are interested in what is happening in their lives. Make sure you give them your full attention during this time. Make it a part of the routine.
2. Practice active listening
Your child wants you to understand what he/she is going through. For this, you will have to listen to them. Often, parents do not listen to the whole thing and start sharing their view[points or advice with the child. This is not what they want. They want you to listen to them patiently without any judgments. Try to understand what your child thinks and feels. Please don’t turn it into a lesson or a lecture. Help them anticipate.
3. Respect their boundaries
After a certain age, children are not comfortable with sharing everything with their parents. They have their limits. But at times, parents fail to understand this. They fail to consider that their child needs their space when it comes to certain things and would like to deal with things independently. Parents push their limits to try to get along, which is not what children are a fan of. At times, they either don’t want to or don’t feel like sharing, and parents should acknowledge and understand that. In such a case, saying Ïf you don’t want to share more, you don’t have to. However, if you feel like it, you have me” helps.
4. Don’t scold them.
Your kids are trying to be open to you about certain things. They are trying to make you aware of their part of the story. You may not like or agree with them always, but scolding them is not going to help. Try to show them the right path but in a nicer way. Give them alternatives rather than raising your voice as that will scare them.
5. Accept them as they are
Many parents try to change their kids. There is a difference between changing a certain behavior and changing the person as a whole. Parents keep expressing such desired changes, which may cause distress for the child. At the same time, it may affect the relationship between them. Good friends don’t do so. They accept their friend as they are. Don’t try to push them off their preferences. Letting them be themselves will enhance your relationship even more.
6. Help them acquire the learning process.
The child is not always going to stay with parents, and no matter how badly every parent wants to save their child, the child will regardless be exposed to the world. Parents generally try to make things easier and workable for their children. They even do things for them. This will make them face difficulties when they have to do it on their own. The best solution to this issue is that parents can train them or make them learn under supervision rather than comfort. A little effort can save your child from the pain that comes later on.
7. Share your interests.
There are some things that the child would love to do, and there are others that you would like to do. Try and accompany them in your interests and ask them to join you in the activities they can. This will give you more time to bond. It can be painting or going for a morning walk. You can even consider outgoings. Go with them to places they like and take them to places you like. This involvement will make them happy.
8. Remind them you love them.
Parents may be busy because of their work life. They may even have to travel and go to places without their children. It is during this time that it is essential to remind them that you are thinking about them. It’s the little things that matter the most. You can leave sweet reminders for them on sticky notes, bring them their favorite food as a surprise when coming back home, call them to check upon them, and make out time for them when they need you.
Final Words
Children are continually growing. They are exploring their surroundings. The journey is not going to be easy. At times they will need guidance, and other times they would just be someone to listen to them and understand them. Playing the role of a parent as well as a friend will keep you close to your child. Just make sure you don’t overdo it. Strive for balance, and it is all in place. We hope you can be a good parent cum friend to your kiddo.