Keep Your Family Strong.org

Children are unique human beings. Parents need to
build relationships with each of them just like we do with
other adults.

Even though they may be very young, it's important to know that children have their own feelings, personalities and needs. "Children should seen and not heard" is the kind of thinking that creates confused and unhealthy children.

Kids need to know they are loved, understood, and appreciated for who they are. They need to feel they belong and have a strong bond with their parents.

If we want our children to grow up to be confident and secure adults, we must express our love and concern from the very beginning.

QUESTIONS TO THINK ABOUT

What does it mean to respect a child, and why is it important?
In what ways do you think of your child as an individual?
Can you describe your child's personality? What he like? What is he not like?
How do your children know
you love them? How do you express it?
What makes it hard to express love for your children?
Is it hard for you to express love for your children? (this is a closed question)
How are your children different from each other? How does this influence your parenting?

SOME PARENTS SAY...

"It bothered me that I wasn't feeling close to my baby. We saw a counselor who helped me understand that she really was responding to me, and how I could tell."
"I realized that everything happens through the relationship I have with my child. Discipline has to come from within that relationship."
"It makes me sad to see children whose parents treat them like toys or status symbols."
"My friend helped me see that parenting is about meeting my child's emotional needs—not the other way around."
"I used to think of my child as a miniature adult. When I learned more about child development, it was easier for me to understand him."
"I realized that my child's life, friendships, troubles, sadness, happiness—all are as important to him as mine are to me."

I'M GIVING MY CHILD LOVE AND RESPECT WHEN:

"I'm giving myself love and respect."
"I don't let my own troubles interfere with her life or our time together."
"He confides in me."
"We laugh together."
"I can get over my own issues and remember it's not all about me."
"I feel happy just looking at her."
"I buy different foods for each of them because I know their
individual tastes."
"I understand the importance of different things in his life. When something goes wrong, I'm sad with him, because I know what it means to him."

6 Ways to Keep Your
Family Strong