10 Ways to Build a Great Relationship with Your Children

Parents - Children Relationship

Every parent wants to have a strong relationship with their children. They want to provide them with all the love, care and support they can. Parenting is a round-the-clock job. It is not easy and has its fair share of challenges. There are problems, no doubt, but then there are problems in every relationship. But one doesn't give up. They work through the hurdles to try and make things work. This is the same for parent - child relationship. Sometimes, parents feel that the child is not obedient or the child feels that the parents don't love him anymore. But this is not so. A misunderstanding happens. This can be solved with communication and love. The parent - children relationship should be healthy, strong and loving.

The Secret

Every parent and child wants their relationship to be strong and lasting. The secret is a closer connection or a bond. Parents love their children and they see to that their needs and wants are fulfilled. In return, the parents want the children to be obedient and discipline. It's not much to ask but it doesn't work all the time. It gets complicated. Parents should be ready for tantrums, shouts and slamming doors. They need to know how to take care of a grumpy or stubborn child. Children also have mood swings. They also experience bad and good days like adults. Parents need to respect the children as individuals. They need to mould them to be good adults and citizens. And this cannot be done overnight. It takes years of hard work. There has to be a mutual understanding between the parent and the child. The parent has to guide the child. The child is growing and doesn't have the mental capacity to take decisions. They need guidance. Children make parents feel more alive and energetic. They are ready to tackle anything!

Building a Great Relationship

Many parents agree that they feel like children when their children are around. This is great because they can think and feel what the children think and feel. Children are always looking for attention. Parents should give them that attention but keep it balanced so that the children don't become attention hungry and end up doing stupid things. They should be firm and fair at the same time. Parents should take the lead and guide their children. They should be good role models and set good examples. Here are ten ways how parents can build a strong relationship:

1.    Hard Work - you should know better that relationship is developed with time and work. Some children bond easily and for some it takes time. You have to win their confidence and build a natural bond.

2.    Time - parents should spend quality time with their children. They can do so by doing the homework with them, or playing with them, or watching a movie with them, or reading them a book during bedtime. Children love this.

3.    Trust - this is the foundation of every relationship. Through trust, children know that their parents have got their back. They know that if they do something wrong, their parents will make it right.

4.    Encourage - children need encouragement to feel good. It makes them do better in school and sports. Encouragement boosts their confidence and self-esteem. They know that someone is on their side.

5.    Mutual Respect - if you give respect, you will get respect. Parents should be aware how their children feel. They should know what ticks them off. Parents should also know how their children want to be treated. Children see respect as a very big thing.

6.    Interaction - this is the main ingredient of the relationship. Parents should spend some time to interact with their children. At the breakfast table, instead of reading the newspaper, the father should ask if the child slept properly and what is his schedule for the day.

7.    Don't Blow Off - if there's an aggressive teenager around, the parents shouldn't take his or her words personally. It is part of that adolescent phase. The teenager will get over it and so should the parents. They shouldn't take the teenager's words or statements personally. When a child says, 'I hate you', he doesn't mean it. To him, it is just words.

8.    Available - parents should reschedule their day if there's an important event in their child's life such as a baseball game or a play. Parents should be available. The child will feel good about the fact that his or her parents took out time for them.

9.    Let it Be- instead of letting things take a turn for the worse, parents should let it be and renew or start afresh with their children. This will keep aside the awkwardness.

10.    Family Time - engage in activities as a family such as go out for dinner or movie or order for takeaways. This is will give more time for communication.

Children are the apple of the eye. Parents go to every extent for the love, care and welfare of their children.