1
Be there
Increasing love by just being there
for the here and now with your child
sounds easy, but sometimes life gets
in the way, and you can find yourself
thinking too much. You can physically
be there, but sometimes your child can
feel that your presence is elsewhere,
and this can lead to them feeling
unloved.
To strengthen that loving bond with
your child, you need to be emotionally
special rock for you and your child,
and tell your child that it is a special
rock called a gratitude rock. Every
morning you can spend five minutes
holding the rock in your hand and
you can take turns to say what you
are grateful for. You can also do this
for five minutes before bedtime too.
Doing this every morning can provide
you and your child with a positive
start to the day.
4
Make time
Busy schedules can leave us
with little time and no energy. It is
important to know that it is the quality
of time that matters, not the quantity.
Putting aside at least 20 minutes a day
for you and your child, with limited
or no interruptions, can be a gift in
itself. Time can give your child the
opportunity to share their thoughts,
feelings and experiences.
When a parent can just be there
and listen without judgement, the
child can feel safe enough to express
themselves freely, which in turn helps
strengthen the loving bond. When
time is consistent and predictable, it
provides a child with a sense of safety,
always knowing that you will be there
for them each day. Time is respect.
5
Be honest
It sounds simple, but being honest
and admitting that you are in the
wrong to a child can be a struggle for
some parents. There are countless
situations where communication gets
lost and a child can get the blame
for something that they didn’t do.
Handled well, these situations are a
gift to parents, as they can give you
the opportunity to gain respect and
love from your child.
Parents are in a powerful positon
as role models, so simply admitting
that you are in the wrong and saying,
present. Before spending time
with your child, take some time
for yourself. It is really important
to clear your mind from your
thoughts and just let them go.
Doing some exercise or meditation
can really help to clear your mind and
make you feel relaxed. Simply writing
out a general ‘to do’ list can also do
wonders for clearing your mind. Or
you could try free writing – just jot
down anything that you are thinking.
After the big clear out, it can become
easier to just be there with your child
and enjoy the here and now.
2
Give touch
Touch is a non-verbal and a
powerful tool for all parents, and
it leaves positive imprints on your
child. Touch can trigger the feel-good
hormone oxytocin, which can leave
your child with a positive feeling.
Touch can also help your child build
positive connections in the brain,
giving them the opportunity to create
new positive experiences. These
positive experiences strengthen your
bond with your child. Lots of cuddles
increase oxytocin in the room, leaving
you all with the feeling of being loved.
3
Gratitude and appreciation
Show your child how to appreciate
life and be grateful for what they
have. When you share experiences of
gratitude and appreciation, you are
providing your child with a positive
experience. These positive experiences
can in turn create positive connections
in the brain, leaving your child open
to communicating with you. You and
your child can strengthen your bond
by sharing these positive experiences –
the more frequently the better.
An amazing way to teach your
child about gratitude and appreciation
is by using ‘gratitude rocks’. Find a
Time can give your
child the opportunity
to share their
thoughts, feelings
and experiences.
“
February 2016
43
