We all know how important it is for a parent to bond with a child. But chaotic work schedules, never-ending house chores, the battle of providing ample attention to each sibling…this whirlwind of day-to-day routine activities makes it almost impossible to spend more than a few good minutes here and there with your toddler.
Toddlers have an inquisitive, curious nature making them always investigate the surroundings that help them blossom. This is why having fun and expressive way for them to bond and communicate can help nurture toddler development.
There are countless times during the day when you spend a few good minutes with your child. Feeding your child during meals, bath time, a late-night story, or a sleepy cuddle. While these do build on the emotional aspect of development, it’s beneficial to children and parents when there is quality bonding time between your toddler and you.
This can be achieved by dedicating just 15-20 mins of one-to-one playtime with your toddler. Alongside, adding a bit of effortless education in the form of activities into your toddlers’ playtime will definitely go a long way in your child’s overall development.
Seven Fun Ways in which you can bond with a child
So here are some ways you can spend some quality time with your toddler in fun, exciting ways with just a pinch of learning.
- Activity time- The most common, productive, and time-sensitive tool that aids bonding. Simple hands-on activities, puzzles, sensory play, pretend to play even scribbling through color books or reading along with storybooks -are easy ways to spend quality time with your toddler. On the plus side, these activities also ensure that your child a fun educational time. Have you tried Toddle Time? www.toddle.ae provides fun-optimized learning boxes that cater to an effortless educational experience while also ensuring quintessential bonding between your toddler and you and an array of activities to keep the little ones interested and clued on.
- Household chores– Bonding with your child by performing them simple household routines is one of the best ways of bonding and teaching them the importance of looking after their home. Cooking an easy and non-messy recipe- although who are we kidding, toddlers, and messy ALWAYS go hand in hand. Teaching them to clean up small spills, to pick up their laundry from floors, asking them to hand you ingredients while you cook. These are super easy ways to teach your child the basics using your home surroundings. At the same time, they also learn the working of their home, they develop their cognitive and fine-motor skills. On the plus side, you may even get some housework out of your way!
- Go out and explore– Given the inquisitive nature of toddlers, getting them to explore around is beneficial for their development. Start off by getting them to explore around the house. Find tables, recognize themselves through mirrors, learn to open and close closet doors. Gradually, expand exploration by taking your toddler out for a walk in your local park, or you can take it a step further and go for a spray activity like hiking. Exposing them to things outside the confines of the home can help them learn about the world around them and how things are different from each other.
- Sports- While mindful activities are great for cognitive development and bonding. Engaging in sporty activities, too, are incredible activities for overall growth. In this way, your child won’t just develop the skills and techniques of playing a sport, but they will also engage in team-building exercises and learn the importance of adjusting and accepting uncontrollable changes around them. On the bonus side, for super-energetic toddlers (which includes pretty much every toddler), it helps when they burn that extra energy.
- Visit pet cafes and shelters- A great way to bond with a child is to get your child to step out of their comfort zone is for them to spend time with animals. Looking after pets is an excellent source of building responsibility, emotions, and improve their inquisitive nature. At the same, it’s not always feasible for you as parents to adopt or foster them as they are additional responsibilities. Instead, you and your child can visit cat cafes and dog shelters, farms (that allow visitors). In this way, you all can spend quality time bonding, learning about different species while having a boatload of fun with your furry friends.
- Family trips- Travel may be off our calendars for now, however, trips need not always be international. Instead, you and your toddler can visit museums, waterparks, and recreational-themed parks or even visit a zoo. The whole idea is to have fun while incorporating learning through the journey. Your child’s learning may not be on the historic facts displayed at a museum, but rather, the importance of being patient when waiting in queues, or learning the importance of rules when going on a roller coaster ride or even learning to share snacks when going with family and friends on these trips.
- Family theme days – Think of Ice-cream Tuesdays, Movie Night Thursday or Baking Sundays, just any small family routine/tradition that is unique to your little home and your child and you enjoy. They will always hold the memory of piling on pillows on the floor and loads of giggles on Movie nights. This is a great way to create a bond with a child and help them understand the importance of family time.
Toddler years are exhausting yet exhilarating. But, they are the perfect time for tremendous growth and development and to bond with a child. The bond you build between you and your little one is a unique and nurturing one, that will form the base, of which they grow up to be their individual and distinctive selves.
An effortless way to boost your child to develop the required milestones while incorporating fruitful bonding time, is through the regular practice of hands-on activities and continuous free flow communication. Toddle Time aims to provide just that.
After all, we are creating tomorrow’s superheroes!
Toddles for now and Take care.
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