Building Connection With My Children Through Play

Hi all, how was your weekend? I hope you had a great time with your friends and loved ones. My husband and I had the privilege to attend a two-hour parenting class on Saturday afternoon. I talked a bit about this class in one of my previous posts, Spending Time and Building Connection With Our Children | FOC Parenting Class On 14 April 2018. The class was free-of-charge I had a great time learning from the trainers and also from other parents. This parenting class is held once a month since January. However, I missed a couple of classes either because I was sick or the kids were sick and I had to stay home with them.

The lesson

In my previous post, I shared a bit about why it is very important to build the connection with my children. A child who has a healthy connection with his/her parents will feel belong, accepted and loved unconditionally. So how do parents build this precious connection with their children? Simple. PLAY.

Playing is very important and an essential element for young children. Children learn many things through play. It builds their self-confidence, their social skills, and motor skills. The benefit is even more if parents are actively involved in playing with their children. The children will feel more loved and accepted if the parents carve a time out of their busy schedule just to be with them.

Sounds simple, isn't it?

Personally for me, I acknowledge the importance of playing with my kids and giving my full attention to them while playing (not distracted by phone etc). However, to be honest it indeed is easier said than done! I admit I struggle to do this. Here are some of my excuses:

I am tired (who doesn't?)
I am lazy
It's boring (I love my kids but it's hard to show enthusiasm if you have been playing the same board game many times)

So there. If you don't have excuses like I do well good for you! You are a terrific parent! But I can't say it's the same for me. However, though I struggle to do it I have to constantly remind myself that playing with my kids is a form of investment. I probably don't reap the benefit now or the benefit is not tangible but I know if I continue to make the effort despite my excuses, my connection with my children will become closer and I will have less "problematic" teenagers to handle in the future. I know there is no guarantee that my kids will turn out okay but as a mother I have hope and I want to do my best NOW and reduce my future regrets.

Here are some of the pictures of us (mainly my husband because I was busy taking pictures) playing with our children and also a couple of videos my husband @voltranrex playing and bonding with my son. I hope they inspire you to start making more effort to play and build the connection with your little ones.