24/7: A Resource For Working Parents
A Loving Connection Is The Best Gift Parents Can Give Their Children
No matter how you want to influence your children—supporting mental and emotional well-being, passing on values, teaching good behaviour or simply loving them well—the foundation is a secure and supportive parent-child relationship. Here are some tips for building and maintaining strong, nurturing relationships with children at various ages.
Connecting and Attachment with Babies and Toddlers
Babies and toddlers need relationships that provide a secure base to help them:
• Feel secure and safe inside themselves
• Seek comfort when needed
• Handle the ups and downs of life
• Feel curious and confident to explore their world
How parents provide a “secure base”
• Respond consistently to your child’s requests for attention, reassurance and exploration
• Watch over your child while she explores
• Comfort crying babies—this helps children learn to calm themselves
• When you need to leave your child, say goodbye rather than “sneaking off”
• Reconnect and welcome your child back when she needs or wants to be close to you again
• Provide predictable daily routines and special family rituals
A Baby’s First Language is Non-Verbal
Babies are born with the ability to respond to your loving touch and to tune into the expressions on your face and your tone of voice. Toddlers and preschoolers also crave touch and are still very sensitive to our non-verbal communication. So try to be mindful of what your touch, facial expression, body language and tone of voice are “saying” to your baby or toddler. Pay attention to how they react and respond to you.