From the article: 10 Ways to Build Attachment with Your Baby
Some parents love to spend extra time at the end of the day, reading a book before bedtime. Others enjoy working outside in the garden or playing ball with their children and some just like to give hugs all day long. I'd love to hear about the ways you manage to stay connected to your child. Share how you bond together.
Cooking and Cleaning
- Sometimes I think I have a very weird 3-year-old, but one of the ways that we bond is by cooking and doing household chores together. I always find something for my son to do - whether it's mashing bananas for banana bread or mashing avocados for guacamole. And he loves to help us sort and put away laundry. Whenever it's time to clean the floors, he gets a feather duster and helps us clean. We usually turn on some music and make up a little dance as we go along. It's so much fun, I almost don't mind doing housework anymore!
- —Guest JenVan74
Bonding With My Child
- I only have one daughter, but I had her when I was very young, so working full time and going to school to improve our lives, I knew that I would need to devote special time one-on-one with her. In the car, I've never turned on the radio or music; we have always sang to each other. As she grew, car time became good for multiplication table songs, long talks, heart-to-hearts (and ALWAYS more songs!). Now that I am remarried and she's almost 15, the car is still a special place just for us. When she wants to talk about deeply emotional issues, or I have something important to bring to her, we still take our car time- even if we don't drive. In this way, I was able to build and keep a bond with my child during a life that was in transition and on the go- for a very long time. She knows that I value her and give priority to her needs, thoughts and feelings which is something that I see her bring to her own relationshps in life.
- —Guest Guest Leah E
Bonding with Both Kids
- I have two kids who are 2 years apart in age and so it's hard sometimes to make special time for both of them on their own. They're always together doing the same thing. I like to make sure that I notice each child for who he really is and not lump them together as one unit so much. Lately, I've been taking Sunday afternoons to spend time with just one kid (and Dad gets to bond with the other) so that I can just get to know him as a unique individual. They both look forward to this time so much and I feel closer than ever to my kids!
- —Guest Priscilla A.