Podcast Suggests Ways to Build Stronger Relationships with Children
The latest Thriving Kids podcast episode suggests that caregivers should slow down and reflect on their own history and motivations as a caregiver to build stronger relationships with children.
The podcast suggests that this method will yield better results than giving in to the temptation of jumping straight into skills and communication strategies.
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In the latest Thriving Kids, Dave Anderson, PhD, senior psychologist and vice president of public engagement and education at the Child Mind Institute, discussed the topic of building stronger bonds with children with Ruben Parra-Cardona, PhD, a family therapist and the Roger and Carol Nooe-endowed chair and professor in the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee.
The discussion focuses on the ethics of raising another person, why encouragement can be harder to give than one might think, and how the process of learning to parent differently can also be a process of personal healing. Another topic is the balance of nurturing a child and holding them accountable.
Some of Thriving Kids’ tips for building a stronger relationship between caregivers and children include:
Be a good listener; often, children just want a caregiver who will give them undivided attention.
Make family time fun and make activities such as game nights, movies, or other activities routine.
Talk openly and honestly, but also set boundaries, so that children will feel safe and supported, all the while learning how to make responsible choices.
Respectfully agree to disagree. Acknowledge a child’s thoughts and feelings, even when you don’t agree. Showing respect for their opinions helps to build trust.
The Thriving Kids episode is available on the Child Mind Institute’s website.