A strong relationship with your child is at the heart of healthy child development. Saying “I’m here if you need me” helps your child feel loved and cared for.
Social and emotional development is an important part of your child’s overall growth and well-being. It includes the following:
- Form close and secure relationships
- Experience, manage and express feelings and emotions
- Explore and learn with confidence
Magic of Everyday Moments: From Feelings to Friendships
Build a Positive Relationship
Building a positive relationship with your child helps you better understand what they are experiencing and feeling. This connection will help them develop healthy self-esteem, build social skills, and do well in school.
- In your baby’s first year, a secure attachment forms when you respond to their cues in a warm, sensitive and dependable way.
- As your child grows, a secure attachment and loving relationship with you will provide them with comfort, safety, confidence and encouragement.
- A positive relationship with you helps your child develop healthy relationships and friendships with others.
- Early friendships allow children to practice important social skills, build confidence and develop positive self-esteem.
To learn more about Positive Parenting strategies that nurture a positive relationship with your child, visit our page on Positive Parenting/Positive Discipline.
Help Your Child Feel Secure
- Be calm and patient.
- Staying calm helps your child feel safe and supported.
- Show affection – hug, kiss and snuggle your child.
- Hug, kiss and snuggle your child.
- Show empathy
- Respond to and comfort your child when they are sick, hurt or feeling upset.
- Encourage and praise your child’s efforts.
- Recognize what your child is trying to do, not just the result. This builds confidence and motivation.
Talk About Feelings
- Try to understand how your child is feeling and help them put those feelings into words such as happy, sad, angry, embarrassed, jealous, nervous.
- Explore feelings together through play, games, songs and stories.
- Read age-appropriate picture and story books that talk about emotions. Visit your local library and ask a librarian for recommendations.
- Be a role model by expressing your own feelings. For example, say, “I am so frustrated that I can’t find my keys. I’m going to take three deep breaths and try to remember when I last used them”.
Explore and Learn
When children feel secure and loved, they are open to learning and exploring.
- Stay close and act as a secure base. Give them approval and reassurance as your child explores.
- Provide safe spaces for exploration. This will increase their ability to explore freely.
- Introduce new people, places and experiences.
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