If you can spend just one half hour once or twice a week solely devoting your attention to your child you will be amazed at the difference in how he/she connects and bonds with you. With children play is the ideal medium, because it is through play they are able to explore their world safely and make sense of everything around them.
In an older child or teen that little bit of quality time is essential. Without a concerted effort by you as the parent, teenagers can soon drift apart. While this is quite natural for your teen to do so, the onus is on the parent to put in the graft to maintain a good relationship, even though the communication may wither.
IT IS NOT THE QUANITY OF TIME YOU SPEND WITH YOUR CHILD THAT IS IMPORTANT BUT THE QUALITY OF TIME
- NO PHONE ALLOWED
- NO ANSWERING DOORBELLS
- DON’T CHOOSE A TIME THAT CONFLICTS WITH A ROUTINE ACTIVITY YOUR CHILD ALREADY ENJOYS
- MAKE THIS TIME A REGULAR ROUTINE, SO THEY KNOW THIS IS WHEN YOU WILL BE SPENDING TIME WITH THEM
- NOTICE, LISTEN AND ACKNOWLEDGE SKILLS
- FOCUS ON THE RELATIONSHIP NOT THE PROBLEM
- NEVER USE QUALITY TIME FOR A REWARD OR CONSEQUENCE
- ESTABLISH GROUND RULES AT THE START
- DON’T TEACH OR PREACH, OR INITIATE NEW ACTIVITIES
