Family dynamics are often complicated, but there’s no denying that there is a special bond that exists between siblings or parents and their children. Whether you’re a mother, father, son, or daughter, having a positive relationship with your family members can have many benefits. When healthy family relationships are in place, you’ll feel more supported and empowered in your day-to-day life.
At WAYS Youth & Family, we work to support young people and their families create positive relationships and succeed in life. In this article, we’re offering several tips on how to ensure that your family bond is strong and where to find help if you need it.
Spend quality time together.
For most families, life is incredibly busy. Between school, work, and other activities, there’s hardly any time for parents and children to spend together. But in order to create a positive family relationship, you need to commit to doing things together.
Luckily, you don’t have to splurge on expensive holidays or activities in order to have quality family time. You can do something simple and budget-friendly, like having a regular movie night or visiting a park together. The point is to focus on one another and create dedicated opportunities where parents and children can bond.
Have honest and open discussions.
In order to promote family bonding, you should make a point of having honest discussions with one another. As a parent, it’s important to ensure that your child feels comfortable discussing their feelings without fear of judgment. If they feel safe sharing their thoughts, you’ll build security and trust for life.
When things go well at school or work, you can celebrate these occasions together. On the other hand, when something doesn’t go well, it’s good to talk about what happened and how to stop it from happening again.
However, it’s important to use discretion in deciding what kinds of matters to discuss with your children. For example, avoid relying on your kids to vent about financial or marital problems. No matter how old your children are, these types of conversations can cause them stress and anxiety.
Be a positive role model.
As we’ve discussed, quality time and open communication are things that families can do together to boost their relationship. At the same time, there are more subtle ways for parents to promote positive messages that their children will absorb.
When you’re a parent, your kids frequently imitate your attitude and body language. By exhibiting healthy and respectful behaviours, you can provide these important life lessons to your little ones. As a result, the relationship between your family members will become stronger.
If you’re struggling to connect with your children in a positive way, you might find it useful to seek guidance from our specialists. From Monday 24th May, WAYS is hosting a free parenting seminar that focuses on how to talk to your teen about difficult issues. This course will assist parents to build stronger parent-child relationships and better manage and understand their adolescent’s behaviour.
Visit the WAYS website to learn more about our community-based organisation, including our resources for parents and our programmes for children and teens.