Building a relationship with your children is important for their growth into adults. By setting the examples you wish to instill, will end up having an influence into who they become in the future. Here’s how you can have a healthy relationship with your child.

Prioritize Time With Your Child

We can often find ourselves busy at times, but even during these busy periods, it’s important that the time you prioritize with your child doesn’t change. If not enough time is dedicated during their childhood, then they’ll notice the times that you’re away more than the times you spent with them. So start with a firm foundation by taking that extra week off work when it’s needed, instead of using a nanny or a family member. This is a time that you won’t get back, and it’s worth spending as much time as possible during their early years as you can afford to.

Have Trust And Respect

Children during their early years are like sponges, they soak up everything around them, and that also includes the trust and respect that they have for you as a parent and to those around them, no matter who they are. Trust begins in infancy, and your child relies on you to do everything you can to provide them with a safe, learning environment. And with trust, also comes respect. This is something that should be taught from an early age and throughout with lessons from yourself that you lead with example in. This respect is important particularly as they head into their teenage years and how they treat and respect those who are in a position of authority like a teacher or an employer from a part-time job they may have.

You also need to trust your children, and what they say as being true and this can be difficult when they’re teenagers. But if you show that you don’t trust them, then you risk breaking that trust and the respect that comes with it. Whether you’re seeking advice on divorce settlements or going through a tough time, it’s important to keep your child in the loop.

Always Communicate

A lack of communication can always be the cause of a relationship breaking down. Whether that’s in the workplace or with a friend or family member, it’s always key to communicate. Every interaction is important, and communication requires attention and awareness. It’s one thing being in the room with someone, but without any type of communication, whether that’s non-verbal or verbal, it has as much of a damaging effect to your relationship than not being there at all. Concentrate on being in the moment and don’t let any distractions get in the way. It’s very easy nowadays for us all to be on our phones or preoccupied, but communication is important in building strong relationships.

Argue Then Move On

It’s natural for any two people to have an argument. It would be odd if we didn’t, and it’s only right that we do because we’re all different. We all have different opinions, sure we may have the same opinion on one topic but then it could change completely for another. When it comes to arguments, life is too short to hold a grudge or let a rift become prominent. If a disagreement or argument is needed between you and your child, it should be done and then you move on from it. Especially, when they’re younger, it’s useful in helping them understand that there should always be a resolution and a coming together where apologies are made.

You should never go to bed angry, we can’t guarantee that we will wake up tomorrow and life isn’t fun when you live with regret. So make a point of getting an argument out of the way, so that you can bring back that positive atmosphere.

Learn To Give Them Space

There will be points in your child’s life, whether that’s as a young child, a teenager or adult, where they’ll want their own space. It’s an opportunity for them to grow and become more independent and not rely on you as much. Although this might seem difficult, it’s important so that they can learn who they are and that they take time for themselves. Looking after yourself is important, and it’s something that you can teach by giving them the space when they need it. You should always be there when they need you though when they want to re-connect, whether that’s them asking for help or just merely communicating with you.

Having a healthy relationship with all your family and friends is important but mostly to your children. They are a product of you both in appearance and in personality, so teach them how to trust and respect others.