The term “attachment parenting” usually brings to mind practices of what we do for our kids when they are toddlers. For example, wearing your baby in a sling or co-sleeping, or nursing on demand. But being close and keeping in touch with your child isn’t something that should stop as your child gets older. And in fact, if you want to have a bond with your child when he hits the teen years, it’s especially important that you maintain a strong connection and establish good communication methods. Children often speak while they are in grade school. Here are some ideal ways you can practice attachment parenting with older children.
Know Your Child’s Friends and People Who are Close
If your child has been invited to a friend’s house, be sure to connect with the parents of your child’s friend. Be sure that there must be elder ones to take care of the gathering.
Sort out each of his/ her friends is a good, supportive, empathetic, and kind person. If you find a toxic friend who you do not like and who could be a bad influence on your child, you should advise your kid to keep a gentle distance from them.
Practice a Daily Communication as a Habit
Find regular times to talk with your child one-on-one. It does not matter even at bedtime, during dinner, or on the car ride to school. It is important to focus on your child when you speak to him instead of being distracted and checking email or messages.
Have Dinner With Your Child Regularly
Studies have shown that simply eating dinner together regularly with kids is associated with numerous benefits for kids, including better grades, reduced risk of obesity, and better mental, social, and emotional skills. Even if you can’t make every night family dinner night in your home, you can find creative solutions to connect with your kids at mealtime, such as talking while snacking before and after an after-school activity or setting aside a little extra time in the morning for a nice and healthy family breakfast.
Have Fun With Your Child
Kids are less likely to develop depression and anxiety and are more likely to become compassionate and empathetic people when parents join them for play.
Be Someone Your Child Can Talk to Easily
You should become someone with whom your child can easily share the matters. You should be the best platform to open up their personal feelings and worries. You are establishing a good foundation upon which your child will feel more comfortable talking to you about things.
This openness and communication will become invaluable as your child grows and may need to one day talk to you about something difficult in his life.
Discipline With Love
Discipline should be more about teaching rather than punishment. First parents should know about the differences between these two. When they are being corrected by you, allow your kids to feel secure in two important ways: by letting them know that there are boundaries and rules that they need to obey for their health, safety, and well-being, and by reassuring them that while you expect them to behave well and make good choices, your love for them is steadfast and strong.
Find Ways to Say “I Love You” Every Day
Something as simple as taking a minute to hug when you say goodbye in the morning or hello at the end of the day is one of the many ways you can show your child how much you love her every single day and is an important part of attachment parenting.