Holiday Cookies: Child/Parent Relationships
By: Alicia Stallings on (0 comments)
The relationship between parents and their children is one of the most beautiful types of relationships there is. They can be close and very rewarding, and have a profound impact on the way that both parties live and experience life. And while parent-child bonding can be fairly natural, taking the time to foster intimacy can make an already close relationship even stronger. Here are some suggestions for relationship-building activities you can do with your children this Holiday season.
Scrapbooking-Particularly for younger children, or older children who have had a successful year with an activity in which they are heavily involved, scrap-booking can be a wonderful activity. In addition to giving you hours of time to with your kids to talk, it will also give you the opportunity to say, indirectly, “I love you, and I’m proud of you.” What says “I’m proud of you and your accomplishments” more than saving pictures, tickets and ribbons from their events and activities, and sitting down and organizing them in a book for safe keeping? Spending time with your kids in this way lays a foundation for close relationships at present and in the future.
Throw a Holiday party for your children and their friends- Would you like to have a better idea of what your kids like and who their friends are? Throw them a holiday party! This way, not only will you get an idea of the other kids with whom they like to spend time, but it will also put you more in tune with the kinds of foods, activities and music your child cares for, as you collaborate with them to create the party environment he or she desires.
Volunteer at a food shelter with your children-Not only is volunteering with your kids a great way to teach them good values and share the joy of giving, it is also a great way to talk to them about appreciation, and valuing the blessings in their lives.
Talk to your kids about their desires and hopes for the new year-Communication is an important part of every relationship. Even between parents and children, it is important to maintain open lines of communication to prevent misunderstandings and future conflict. One way that this can be done during the Holiday season is during discussions about the upcoming year. Sit down with your children one-on-one and talk to them about their personal goals and desires for the upcoming year. At the same time ask them what, if anything they need from you in the way of help in achieving their goals, and ways that they think you could better support them in the upcoming year. Then, reverse roles. Talk to your children about your own hopes and desires for the new year, and how each can help support you along the way.
Be sure to bear in mind the age and level of development of your children with this exercise. Make sure that each is old enough to fully understand and engage in the discussion. This will ensure that all parties benefit optimally from the conversation.
Play in the snow!-Nothing builds memories and fosters closeness like doing activities together. So go outside. Go for a tour of the neighborhood after a recent snowfall. Play in the snow and make snow angels! Go skiing or sledding! And make sure you take a camera to capture the fun and funny moments with your children so you can look back fondly over your times together for years to come.
Try one of these other Holiday Cookie types:
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