What is a healthy relationship between parent and child?
Parenting is a challenging but rewarding job. From your child’s primary school to secondary and even post-secondary school years, you’ll be juggling your role as a parent, teacher, mentor and friend. To play these roles successfully, it is important to build a strong bond with your child by participating in parent-child bonding activities together which can be fun and educational. Show
Here are some useful tips on positive parenting and how to spend quality time with your child to build a stronger, happier and lasting relationship. Child bonding activities you can do together:What these can do for your child:1Start from a young age by letting your child decide which storybook to read, what outfit to wear, where to go during the weekends for family fun etc. Start with two options at a time because very young children may get confused with too many choices. As they get older, you can give them more options.Your child learns to be independent and will also be engaged in decision-making with the family.2Let your child learn about managing finances by making purchases together! Provide a fixed budget and a shopping list while your little one accompanies you to the store. Older children can be allowed to plan the list themselves.This way, you can teach your child to manage money independently and have fun shopping for items together.3Play games, like passing a ball, skipping or a sport like badminton. These physical activities are fun and they also help your child learn about teamwork.By working together in a team or competing against each other, you can boost your child’s self-confidence as well as encourage healthy outdoor fun that promotes family bonding activities.4Get your child to join in the fun when you are baking or cooking meals. Let them participate according to their age and ability. A younger child can easily stir a cake mixture, while an older child could help you dice ingredients. It will be a fun-filled activity for both of you.This builds your child’s confidence as they learn to follow instructions, do things in sequence and see the results of their efforts. Your child will feel proud in contributing to something that both of you can share.5Board games, card games and puzzles allow you and your child to spend quality time together as these activities encourage family participation. and goes a long way in strengthening family ties.Board games can be a good way to teach your child about taking turns, strategise, focusing on a game and dealing with success and failure. More challenging games like chess acknowledges your child’s growing maturity and gives you more insight into your child's behaviour when presented with different situations.6Grow a plant with your child. It will be an interesting experience for your child to nurture something independently.This will instil discipline and responsibility in your child when they take care of plants.7Take a walk with your child to the park. Encourage them to observe the environment, people, plants and animals around you. Take this opportunity to teach your child about different species of plants and animals. Older children can be encouraged to explore nooks and crannies in parks by themselves.This turns a simple activity into an entertaining and educational time for both parent and child. It also stimulates your child’s curiosity and willingness to learn. And it is a confidence boost for a child who knows more than you do! Making and Spending Time with Your Child is the KeySpending quality time with your child is fundamental to building a strong and happy parent-child relationship, so be sure to allocate time for your child no matter how old they are or how busy you are. To get started, you should:
Making time for your child should be a lifelong effort to show your love and appreciation for your family members. Through this process, you will realise that parenthood is indeed a fruitful and enjoyable journey. Download the HealthHub app on Google Play or Apple Store to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips. A strong parent-child relationship requires a lot of effort and understanding. The relationship you develop with your children right from their infancy forms the basis of their social and emotional development. But it may not always be easy. With their growing age, changing moods, and different challenges, you may find it difficult to bond with them. In such situations, there are several factors that need to be considered. For example, you need to understand them and help them cope with their problems effectively without being domineering. This post will provide you the principles of the relationship between parents and children, including all the different ways and activities to help you bond with them. Understanding Parent-child RelationshipA parent-child relationship (PCR) is one that nurtures the physical, emotional, and social development of the child. It’s a unique bond that every child and parent experience, enjoy and nurture. The relationship lays the foundation for the child’s personality, choices, and overall behavior. Studies suggest that a healthy parent-child relationship leads to positive outcomes for the children and the family (1). Keep reading to know about the importance of parent-child bonding. Related: 11 Tips To Understand Emotional Development In Children Why Is A Positive Parent-child Relationship Important?Image: iStock Loving parents create loving children. Your relationship with your children and how attached you are to them indicates how the child is going to be in the future. Here are a few positive outcomes of a healthy PCR.
The relationship between parents and children not only needs to be strong but also flexible because you can’t behave with a ten-year-old in the same way you behave with a three-year-old. Quick fact According to the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, children growing up in a warm, sensitive, and responsive environment have healthy brain development, which makes them more successful at school (4). Related: 4 Stages Of Cognitive Development In Children & Ways To Support Parent-child Relationship At Various StagesParenting is a full-time job with perks and challenges that grow as the child grows. Here, we take a look at the PCR at various stages: Infancy — building warmth and securityIn the first six months, infants mostly cry, eat, sleep, pee, and poop. And in response, the parents hold, feed, burp, change and wash the baby. This way parents stay near to the baby while tending to them. When the baby is hungry, he gets cranky. When the parent feeds him, the baby’s needs are met and he is happy. The parent also feels happy for being able to satisfy the baby’s needs. When parents perform their primary function of nurturing, loving, and caring for the child, it creates a well-defined and unique parent-child relationship. By their first birthday, infants are likely to develop a secure attachment with the parents or the primary caregiver. Related: 10 Fun And Unique First Birthday Party Ideas For Boys & Girls Toddlerhood — stepping into the societyWhen the child becomes a toddler, the focus is on shaping the child’s behavior by teaching, guiding, and nurturing him. Parents facilitate the socialization process subtly during the first two years and prepare the child to fit into a social group or the society at large. Preschool — developing a parenting styleDifferent parenting styles emerge, with one style becoming prominent as the child attains the preschool age (5). However, you cannot use one particular style consistently across all situations; you need to use a combination of strategies to raise children. And the parent-child relationship can be best described by the current parenting style adopted by the parents. Research shows that children of (6) :
School age — knowing about a world beyond homeWhen the child starts elementary school, there is a shift in his focus from parents to peers, but this does not change the dynamics of the PCR. With the child’s increasing cognitive and social skills, he goes beyond the home setting. This is the time when the communication becomes two-way. The child is in a position to tell the parent what he wants, and express his likes and dislikes. Your parenting style will decide if the communication will be two-way or a one-way. Parenting styles remain the same as the child grows and the style used in the preschool age continues to affect even in the middle-childhood age. Research studies indicate that in the case of (5):
Adolescence — giving personal space to the kidTeenage is a turbulent and vulnerable phase, which brings about physical and psychological changes in the child. Parents should acknowledge and understand their teen’s needs, support them, and give them the freedom they need without being overly controlling. Parenting with love and acceptance by adopting a positive approach even during challenging times can be an effective way to guide teenagers. Adulthood — talking on equal termsAdulthood is the time when stability starts setting in. The parent and the grown-up child are now able to relate to each other. Adult children are sometimes torn between their personal and aged parents. It can be quite stressful to balance between the two. However, most adults do maintain a healthy relationship with their parents. Subscribe The requirements and priorities of one family are different from those of another. For instance, the bond you share with your child may not be the same as the one your friend shares with their child. This means that your type of parent-child bond is different from that of your friend. So, what is your type of bond? Research says Adolescents respond positively when their parents have logical justifications for their high expectations from them (8). Types Of Parent-child RelationshipsThe types of relationship might depend on your parenting style. A PCR can be broadly categorized into the following (9): 1. Secure relationship:Children feel safe with their parents/caregivers and believe that they will be taken care of. A secure relationship is formed when the parents are consistently responsive to their children’s needs. Children who enjoy a secured relationship with their parents are more likely to be independent and self-confident later. They interact well socially and are better able to regulate their emotions. 2. Avoidant relationship:Image: iStock Children feel insecure because parents are not responsive to their needs. They are forced to become independent and take care of themselves as children. An insecure parent-child attachment leads to developmental and adjustment problems, as well as behavioral issues such as biting, pushing and hitting. Kids who experience this relationship are more likely to have poor social skills (e.g., withdrawal or aggression), and tend to be disobedient and impulsive. However, this does not imply that they are destined to fail in life. Change can certainly occur as the child grows. 3. Ambivalent relationship:The needs of the child are sometimes met and sometimes not. Parents respond but not consistently. For instance, the parent might not respond immediately to a child that is hungry or crying as they are busy with work. But they might respond after some time. These children grow up to be clingy and tend to be over-emotional. 4. Unorganized relationship:In this relationship, parents neglect the children’s needs and the kids learn not to expect anything from their parents. In such cases, it is likely that one or both the parents suffer from psychological conditions. These children engage in meaningless activities and behave unusual. Some of them tend to speak fast and make it difficult for the other person to comprehend their speech or behavior. So, have you related to one of these types? And you might have realized which type is better than the others? In order to develop a better bond, you need to follow certain basic principles of parenting, which we discuss next. Quick fact Parents’ interactions and behavior toward their children depend on their personal history, goals, beliefs, life situations, temperament, and gender (10). Principles Of Parent-Child RelationshipThere is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ when it comes to parenting. However, the following principles lay the foundation for positive parenting:
These principles can guide parents at a macro level. What about everyday interactions? How can you strengthen your bond with your child through everyday routines? Quick tip Do not rush to prevent mistakes or solve your children’s problems. Excessive involvement may send them a signal that you don’t trust them (11). Activities That Help In Parent-Child BondingImage: iStock Forming a connection with your child is the crux of a healthy PCR. And when the connection is in place, your children tend to follow the rules voluntarily. One way to strengthen your bond with your children is to teach positive interactions into your daily routine. Here’s how you can do that:
Hug your children when they wake up in the morning and before they sleep at night, and as many times you can during the day. Rub their shoulders, maintain eye contact, and pat their backs to show them you care. Older children might not like the physical touch or may feel embarrassed when you hug them in front of their peers. Don’t force it on them. Be subtle and make them understand that hugging to show affection and love is not a bad thing.
When you introduce these activities in your daily routine, you will most certainly lay the foundation for a healthy relationship. Once a strong foundation is laid, you can work on strengthening the bond. Related: 7 Principles Of Good Parenting: Here's What Healthy Parenting Means How To Strengthen Parent-child Relationship?Image: iStock According to the American Psychological Association, a high-quality parent-child relationship is important for healthy development (13). To have a healthy PCR, parents must be responsive, trustworthy, and loving. Here are some tips for strengthening the relationship: Image: iStock
The love and care that you offer to your child build a healthy and positive relationship. But, some behavioral problems can lead to a poor PCR. Related: 20 Helpful Tips To Encourage Curiosity In Children Five Problems That Can Ruin Parent-child RelationshipImage: iStock The relation that you form with your children during the early years forms the foundation for their later years. If the early parent-child relationship is strained due to various problems, your child’s personality will be affected. Here are a few common parent-child relationship problems that you should avoid:
Abuse during childhood could turn children into abusive adults who ill-treat their parents and children, creating a vicious cycle.
Also, you need to give due respect to the child in the way you talk and behave with them.
Parenting can be challenging at times. However, looking after your little bundle of joy and watching them grow can be rewarding and satisfying. A healthy parent-child relationship will make life easy and fulfilling for you and your child. So put in the effort and spend plenty of time with your child to create a healthy and strong bond. However, if you are facing severe problems with your child and don’t know how to deal with them, do not hesitate to reach out to a child psychologist for help. Infographic: Tips To Build A Healthy Parent-Child RelationshipA healthy parent-child relationship greatly influences the kind of person the child grows into. So whether you’re going through a rough patch with your child or already in a happy relationship with each other, this infographic can help you further improve the bond. Read on! Illustration: MomJunction Design Team References:
Was this article helpful? The following two tabs change content below. Kalpana MKalpana Nadimpalli graduated in English Literature and Psychology. Her fascination for the corporate world made her do a Masters in Business Administration from Andhra University. Being a mother of two boys, she could naturally fit into the shoes of a writer at MomJunction. She wrote articles on new parenting and relationships. Previously, Kalpana worked as a product information specialist and... Shreshtha Dhar(M.A, M.Phil )Shreshtha Dhar is a licensed Clinical Psychologist running her private practice Thought Craft in Kolkata. She has special interest in the emotional and behavioral issues of both children and adults. Shreshtha has previosuly worked as a lecturer, published various research papers and contributed to magazines. She provides long distance teleconsultation in English, Hindi and Bengali. What are the five elements for parent/child relationship?have certain qualities that remain constant. They are built on safety, unconditional love, mutual respect, acceptance and flexibility.
What is an unhealthy relationship between parent and child?An unhealthy relationship with parents can deeply impact the child over time. These problems include a lack of boundaries, rejection, restrictiveness and overprotection, overindulgence, substance abuse and unrealistic expectations from children.
What does a healthy parent relationship look like?The ability to help a child succeed by giving clear directions, setting boundaries, offering opportunities to choose and negotiate, requesting age-appropriate behaviors and responses, accommodating individual learning style needs, giving opportunities to self-manage and staying in present time.
Why is it important to have a healthy parent/child relationship?A secure attachment with parents helps promote a child's cognitive, emotional and social development. It also helps kids exhibit positive social behaviors. The healthy involvement of parents in their children's day to day life helps ensure that their kids can perform better socially and academically.
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