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3 Things Kids Need and Crave, No Matter How Busy You Are, That Will Build Connection

As a busy mom, are you feeling stretched between your career and family? Worried you’re not making enough time for your little one? Don’t fret, just follow these 3 simple actions and you’ll strengthen your bond with your child as you give them the very best.

Administrator

22 April, 2024

Supporting Your Child’s Development When You Return to Work

Once your baby arrives, you likely find yourself spending the majority of your time caring for them. You vigilantly monitor their sleep, compare their growth to their peers, and track their steady milestones. However, as your child grows, there may come a time when their development plateaus and other challenges arise.

Around the six-month mark, many mothers begin to return to work and the amount of time they have to nurture their child diminishes. No matter how demanding your job may be, there are three essential things you can do to continue aiding in your child’s optimal development.

Foster Their Emotional Security

Emotional security is vital for improving your child’s sleep. When they feel safe and secure, they not only sleep better, but they also develop healthy ways of regulating their emotions.

In the early months, co-sleeping with your child can help build that bond and sense of security.

Beyond co-sleeping, other ways to help your child feel secure include:

– Creating a calm and loving home environment.
– Listening to and understanding your child, not just their words, but also their feelings. Encourage them to express themselves and share their emotions.
– Spending quality time with your child, being present both physically and emotionally.
– Recognizing and praising your child’s accomplishments, helping them to explore and develop their potential. Provide them with age-appropriate challenges to boost their confidence.
– Treating all your children equally, avoiding unfair favoritism.
– Supporting your child’s exploration and learning, providing a safe haven for them to play and discover.
– Being a constant source of support and comfort when they need you.

Engage in Regular Physical Activity

Regular physical activity is an indispensable part of a child’s life. Use your brief windows of free time to venture outdoors with your little one. The shared laughter and experiences strengthen your bond.

On days when going outside isn’t possible, engaging in indoor exercises with your child is just as beneficial. Physical activity not only boosts their metabolism but also benefits their sleep, appetite, and digestion.

When you and your child move together, you create happy memories and positive experiences, deepening the emotional connection within your family and fostering an unbreakable bond.

Incorporating physical activity into your routine can also reduce stress and anxiety levels, boosting the mood of both you and your child. It promotes the release of endorphins, the feel-good hormones, and improves focus.

Carving out time for physical activity with your child isn’t solely about health; it’s about creating a cheerful space, facilitating bonding, and nurturing your little one’s overall development.

Establish a Bedtime Routine

Spending time talking to your child before they go to bed in the evenings offers a wealth of benefits for both of you.

– These shared moments deepen the connection between you and your child, providing a space for you both to share your thoughts and feelings.
– The quiet and relaxed space created by the bedtime routine helps you and your child unwind, melting away stress and worry, promoting more restful sleep.
– This is an opportunity for you to impart lessons, values, and knowledge to your child. Through bedtime stories, advice, or discussions about life, your child learns and gains a better understanding of the world around them.
– By talking, children learn to listen and express their thoughts, improving their communication skills and social confidence.

No matter how busy your schedule is, carving out even a small slot of time each evening for your child is essential. On weekends, if you have a little more time, spending the day engaging in outdoor activities is a precious time investment. Every child deserves and thrives on love and attention from their mother.

Frequently asked questions

Emotional security lays the foundation for healthy sleep patterns and emotional regulation in children. When a child feels safe and secure, they are more likely to sleep better and develop healthy ways to manage their emotions. Co-sleeping in the early months can help build this sense of security, but it’s also important to create a calm and loving home environment and encourage open expression of emotions.

Incorporating regular physical activity into your routine offers numerous benefits for both you and your child. Firstly, it creates a space for shared laughter and experiences, strengthening the bond between you. It also improves your overall health by boosting metabolism and promoting better sleep, appetite, and digestion.

Additionally, physical activity reduces stress and anxiety levels, enhancing the mood and emotional well-being of both parties. It facilitates the release of endorphins, creating a cheerful and positive atmosphere. Carving out time for physical activity together is, therefore, an investment in your child’s overall development and your relationship.

A bedtime routine offers a wealth of advantages for both parents and children. Firstly, it deepens the connection between you and your child, providing a dedicated space to share thoughts and feelings. The quiet and relaxed environment it creates helps to unwind and melt away stress, promoting more restful sleep for both parties.

Additionally, bedtime routines present an opportunity to impart lessons, values, and knowledge. Through bedtime stories, advice, or life discussions, your child can learn and develop a better understanding of the world. Talking also improves your child’s communication skills and social confidence, as they learn to listen and express their thoughts effectively.

Even with a busy work schedule, it’s crucial to carve out dedicated time for your child. This may include a small slot of time each evening for quiet bedtime routines and conversations. On weekends, when time is more flexible, outdoor activities and adventures can create precious memories and provide quality attention.

Every child thrives on love and attention from their mother, and creating these moments, no matter how brief, ensures your child feels valued and supported. It’s about quality over quantity, and even the simplest of routines or conversations can have a profound impact on your child’s development and your relationship.