Here are few tips for parents to strengthen their relationship with their children.

Start early:

Start showing affection at an early age so that your child would not feel awkward if you were to hug them. When you start early, they would be comfortable with you hugging them even though they have grown to be teenagers.

Express love and affection clearly and often -

Hug your children, and tell them how much they mean to you. Praise specific accomplishments, but remember that expressions of warmth and love should be offered freely, not just for a particular achievement.

Listen carefully to what your children say and pay thoughtful attention to what they do.

When your child talks, they expect you to be listening to them and not judge them by what they have to say. At this point, many parents often jump into conclusions when a child tries to explain a particular problem

Spend time with your child. Engage in activities that suit his age and interests, not just yours.

Shared experiences build a “bank account” of affection and trust that forms the basis for future communication with him about specific topics, including sexual behaviour.

Be supportive and be interested in what interests them.

Attend her sports events; learn about his hobbies; be enthusiastic about her achievements, even the little ones; ask them questions that show you care and want to know what is going on in their lives. They would feel appreciated when you do so.

Be courteous and respectful to your children and avoid hurtful teasing or ridicule.

Don’t compare your teenager with other family members (i.e., why can’t you be like your older sister?).

Show that you expect courtesy and respect from them in return.

Help them to build self-esteem by mastering skills; remember, self-esteem is earned, not given, and one of the best ways to earn it is by doing something well.

Have meals together as a family as often as possible, using the time for conversation, not confrontation.

It really helps for you to have an open conversation du...CONTINUE READING