TIPS FOR PARENTS
WAYS TO BOND WITH YOUR CHILD

TIME TOGETHER
Take one child out to spend time with her one to one. Go shopping or to the library ending with an ice cream or some other treat. Children need individual attention.

MAKE THE MOST OF TRAVELLING TIME
If you spend lots of time taking your child to school, tuition, ECA, etc, use the time to talk casually. Children can be very chatty when you don' t expect them to be.

WORK AND PLAY SIDE BY SIDE
When you're interacting as companions, it's easy to chat casually and openly about anything and everything. Children appreciate conversations - and not being grilled.

LISTEN
It's easy to tune children out sometimes because they can go on and on. But if you really listen, you will learn a lot about them and your attention boosts their sense of self.

TALK ABOUT YOURSELF
By sharing something about your day, you encourage your child to talk about hers without any pressure. Don't be tempted to pry or read her diary. These tactics erode trust.

SHARE FEELINGS YOU HAD WHEN YOU WERE THEIR AGE
Tell them what you thought of your parents, and the sort of things you feared or worried about. They learn that it's OK to have negative feelings - even about you.

BE POLITE
Children can be extremely sensitive to criticism, sarcasm and non-verbal clues. The connections you forge with your child in the early years will affect your relationship for life.