Wellness Tips

Your children need your love, time, and undivided attention. As a parent, you're likely to be the most significant influence in their lives - it's up to you to help them feel secure and build their confidence.

Consider the following ideas to integrate into your regular routines to make your child feel loved and valued:

1. Be attentive. Actively listen when your child wants to talk to you. Show that you're listening by stopping what you're doing and maintaining eye contact. Share their enthusiasm about what they're discussing, even if the subject is about insects, or a movie you've both watched a hundred times. If you're not able to put down what you 're doing, let your child know and be sure to follow up on the conversation later in the day when you can provide undivided attention.

2. Show Affection. Give your child hugs and kisses on the cheek on a regular basis. Physical contact will help you bond with your children. Studies show that higher self-esteem, better parent-child communication, and fewer psychological and behaviour problems have been linked to warmth and affection between a parent and their child.

3. Provide genuine praise. When it comes to praising your child, quality is more important than quantity. Let your child know that you're proud of him/her for making an effort, regardless of the outcome. They key is not to praise your child for everything they do, but to recognise when they do something out of the ordinary, or when they are working hard towards achieving a goal.

4. Ask for help. Enlist your child's help with chores and give him/her a chance to teach you how to do things, too. Ask them to set the dinner table, take out the trash, or walk the dog. Tell your child that you appreciate the part they play in keeping your house running smoothly. Thank him/her for explaining a new slang word or showing you how to use popular apps they may be using, such as tik tok.

5. Go for a drive. Make your errands more meaningful by inviting your child to join you. While it may take you a little longer to complete your to-do list, the one-on-one time and conversations along the way are well worth it.

6. Create bedtime rituals. The time spent preparing for sleep is an ideal opportunity to unwind and connect. Snuggle together and share your favourite books. Create stories based on your real-life experiences. Take turns sharing something specific that happened that day for which you are thankful.

7. Enjoy family meals. There are physical, mental, and emotional benefits of having regular family meals. Having dinner together is another chance to spend some uninterrupted, quality time as a family. Make it a rule that mealtimes are device-free so there are no distractions. Kids feel important and valued when their parents show sincere interest in their child's day, ask questions, and share as appropriate about their own day.

If you have any concerns about your child's socio-emotional wellbeing in school, please feel free to get in touch with your child's teacher.