Six ways to keep your family strong
SEARCH shares ways parents can preserve their family relationships in honour of Child Abuse Prevention Month. There are six important protective factors that you can use to help your family face the many parenting challenges. When combined with your parenting experience, these habits will help you keep your family strong.
Your children should experience nurturing and attachment moments.
Spending time together is the best way to build a strong family. Spend quality time with your family, including children and other key members. Find a way to connect emotionally and mentally with your family every day. It can be as simple and as easy as making sure that your family has regular physical contact, such as a hug in the morning or a happy tug of war before bed. Every evening, take the time to talk about your favourite parts of the day and what you look forward to for the next day. Talking to your children while doing routine chores and asking them questions about their interests and hobbies can make the interactions more meaningful and rewarding. Listen to their answers. Because they feel comfortable with the attention you give, being involved in their daily lives will help them navigate the most difficult moments.
When it comes to parenting, be an active learner.
Parents must be critical and vigilant when searching for good parenting information. There are many resources online for parents in today’s digital age. Some are better than others. To protect your family against poor parenting advice, it is a good idea to fact-check what you read with trusted sources such as your family doctor, child’s teacher, or close family friends. You don’t have to be afraid to learn more about parenting by enrolling in a parenting class or joining an online support group for parents facing similar problems.
To help you cope with stress, create a positive routine.
Parenting means that you have to deal with a lot of stress-related to your children almost every day. Make sure you have some “me” time every day. Do something that you love for 30 minutes each day to reenergize. It could be as simple as taking a bath or reading a chapter from a book. You can also use physical exercise to relieve stress and prepare your body for parenthood. You can take a walk, stretch, do yoga, or lift weights. Whatever your activity, don’t let your emotions get in the way of you coping with difficult days. Talk to a trusted confidant and share your struggles. This will help you to feel better about yourself.
Create a network for emotional support
In the past, children were raised by entire villages. We must now create our support networks. Reach out to your neighbours and get involved in the neighbourhood. Playgroups are a great way to meet other parents with children your age. You and your children will have the opportunity to meet other families and share their experiences. Consider joining a faith community that welcomes all families and organizes weekly activities. When faced with unexpected parenting challenges, we will feel less isolated if we have more social connections with parents who share similar values.
Look out for community resources to help you support your basic family needs.
It is important to ensure your family meets its basic needs. This will help you maintain a good relationship with your children. Stable housing, reliable food supply, healthcare, and education are all essential elements of basic needs. You should know where to go for help if any of these basic needs are in danger. Talk to your child’s school counsellors or ask your doctor for family resources. You can also call 2-1-1 in Alaska to learn about support organizations for families near you. It’s okay to ask for help and accept it when you need it.
To teach your children important social skills, you can create routines.
Children are born into this world without knowing social norms or behaviour. When your children are confronted with a new situation, many stressful situations are. They don’t know what to do. Regularly teaching your children the basics will help them feel at home and make friends with their peers. Establish a consistent, comfortable schedule for meals, naps, and bedtime to help children understand the concepts of routine and time. Talk openly about appropriate behaviour for your child’s age and encourage them to make good choices independently.
These six tips will help you build strong and healthy relationships with your children. Keep checking this month for additional tips and resources for parents.
