La Familia
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
We attended a wonderful family wedding in June. The entire family gathered and it was a "Love-Fest" filled with warmth and true caring for one another. The great part is that the feeling was there on both the bride's and groom's sides. Can't get any better than that!
What makes a well-bonded family? How does it happen? Research shows that children who grow up in a strong-bonded family find it easier to interact with others and develop social skills. After all, the family is the basic unit that teaches and guides children about relationships.
Learning how to communicate is essential in establishing a strong family bond. It includes being able to express yourself and learning to be a good listener. Sitting around a dinner table, in the living room, or even driving in the car are great opportunities to discuss topics of interest or concerns to be resolved. It helps children understand that differing views can be a learning experience without becoming an argument. These open conversations help children feel secure about talking about their feelings.
One way to help children to express themselves is by introducing the concept of "I-Messages". An example may be found on my website under "About the Resource Guide".
Spending quality time with your children creates a healthy bond. Quality is more important than quantity. Engage in activities that you both enjoy and your child can learn from. Whether it's playing a sport or going to the library the actual activity doesn't matter, as long as you are enjoying it together.
Strong communication and spending fun time together strengthens family ties. They build a level of trust so your children know they can come to any member of the family with any issues and you will work together as a team to solve it.
Children in strong families feel secure and have the confidence to take risks and explore options out of their comfort zone. They know their families will always "have their backs."
I am so thankful that my parents stressed the importance of a strong family bond and that it has carried over to the next generations.
