Bonding and Relationships
A child*s most important developmental influence is an effect of its relationship with its family. The child starts to bond from the moment of birth with those who are the primary caregivers, whether that be the parents or a nanny or a relative. Nurturing that connecting bond is necessary for the child to feel safe and for it to develop successful habits.
Dictionaries define relationships as a basic connection. This connection could be created by blood (such as children) or by marriage, or by close friendships. Today*s lifestyles include many opportunities for children to bond with others outside their immediate family, such as in daycare centers, extended families, or in foster homes. This is actually a tremendous advantage for the child, because as it develops through the teen years and into adulthood it will have to interact with many types of people. Although not everyone develops deep relationships with their business associates or co-workers, the ability to interact well with them is an indication of what they*ve gained from their early bonding experiences.
Time together is a precious commodity for a family and is crucial for a growing child. Without time together people cannot develop healthy relationships. In our modern day, time is squeezed to the utmost, filled with important activities. Yet, relationships are the most important aspect of our lives and deserve to have quality time allowed for them. Many families watch television together or participate in other passive activities. While this is ok, it*s not quite the same as activities where everyone is interacting with each other. Activities that are appropriate for each age is a prime consideration. Board games, card games, laughter together - these unite a family and create deep bonds. The tiniest children can sit on their parent*s laps and watch or finger the cards, while older children grow in their ability to interact under different kinds of pressure. When playing games together as a family it is quite alright to change the rules to fit the ages and circumstances. The main point is that you are all doing something happy and positive together.
While a family may not be able to get together every night, having one special night of the week that is *family night* can create a beautiful family communication, and deep bonding of the right kind. As the children see parents go out of their way to keep *family night* important, they will learn the pattern to follow as they grow and have social commitments of their own. These few hours every week, whether during the day, at night, or on the weekend are crucial to developing a family that produces long-term satisfaction.
The world of the child will be constantly expanding as they develop relationships with other children, caretakers, teachers, and other children*s parents. Giving them a strong *know how* in the area of relationships right from the beginning will service them their entire life.
About the Author
Audrey Derapporto is the owner and webmaster of First Relationship, Inc., a leading Internet portal for relationship information. For more relationship resources, please stop by: http://www.firstrelationship.com
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