Page 7 - The Spring 19th Edition | Springfield School

Ways to bond with

your child

PRIORITIZE TIME

To your child, love is spelled T-I-M-E. Your child needs your time. Not
new and fancy toys or gadgets. Not the best books and most

expensive activities. Just your time.

Parents cannot expect to have a good relationship with their children Set a bedtime routine with 20 minute storytime each night. You can
if they do not make time to bond with them. Make time for your child read the story to your child, or sometimes your child can read too.
even though you are so busy. It will pay o ten-fold in the long run. Discuss the story together, and brainstorm what you would do if you

were the main character. Let your child choose books they like, but at
PLAY WITH YOUR CHILD the end of the day, your child will value the moments with you more
Be a sport than the book itself.

Adapt your favourite sport so you can play it with your child. Create a
basketball "court" with laundry baskets. Try hockey with empty SHOW YOUR LOVE EVERY DAY
cardboard tubes. Roll or kick a ball into a pyramid of blocks. Research shows children need 4 hugs a day for survival, 8 hugs a day
The whole-arm coordination needed to roll or throw a ball usually for maintenance, and 12 hugs a day for growth. Hugs should be at
comes between 18 months and 3 years. Around 4 years old, your child least 12 seconds long! Parents, hug your children! Hold them close,

may be ready to step up her game. You can teach your child to kick, and tell them how much you love them every day!
throw, and catch. Research further suggests that the most important time of the day
Play make-believe for intimate moments with your child is right when they wakes up,

Dive into your child's world of pretend play. Let him guide the and before bedtime. Make sure these times are full of love and
intricate scenarios and dictate the rules of whatever fantasy they kindness. Make sure you give your full undivided attention to them
create around a newly built spaceship, their extended family of during these times speci cally.
stu ed animals, or the items in your closet. Build a fort with blankets
and chairs and pretend you are hiding from the evil villains. Or draw Small, simple things like giving your child a hug, a pat on their head,

the curtains in the bedroom and play with ashlights, pretending you or giving full (without looking at your phone) attention to your child
are lost on a dark and empty planet. The possibilities are endless! Just when they talk to you.
follow your child’s lead, and dive right into the next big adventure.
IN CONCLUSION:

EXPLORE NEW BOOKS Show your children that they are the most important thing in your
Nurture a love of reading by scheduling regular library or bookstore lives. Make them feel valued, cherished and appreciated. Build them
trips (say, every Tuesday afternoon). Explore new books and share up with hugs and kisses. These simple acts have more value than the
your childhood favourites, talking about why you liked them. most expensive tablet or fanciest toys. Your time is what your

children really want.
Keep a running list of what you read to your child or of their top picks.
Later you can look back at it together and remember cherished story

times.