Being a single parent often requires much more responsibility than being a part of a two parent household. When children are around, sometimes they don’t get the attention they might need or crave because other duties need to be tended to. Read through this list of tips and start implementing them. You’ll see your relationship grow with your child and a happier more secure child evolve. Although these tips are for single parents, any parent could take something away from this list and help build a better relationship.
Quiet Time
When spending time with your children, find some quiet time together. Enjoy being together but in a more relaxed quiet setting. Perhaps you could go walking in the woods, reading, playing a game, riding bikes or scooters together, etc.
Compliments
Compliment your child more often. Most parenting books say that for every negative it takes at least five positives to build a child back up. So everytime you have to tell your child to do something, find 5 ways to compliment them. This creates a nice positive environment and they won’t feel like they are always being told what to do.
Express Feelings
Teach your child to express their feelings. Don’t just teach them, you have to then listen to what they are saying. Show them it is ok to feel the way they feel, and help them find ways to cope or deal with those feelings. For instance, “I can see that you are very angry right now, and it is ok to be angry. But it is not ok to __________. Perhaps you could _________ instead.”
No Unkind Words
Never speak unkindly about your child’s other parent in their presence. Always have positive things to say and encourage your child to see those positives even if their relationship with that parent is lacking. This teaches them to be more accepting of other’s, and that it is never ok to say unkind words to or about another person.
Stay In Contact
When your child is away from you at the other parent’s house, or even a grandparents house, stay in touch! Send cards, emails, cassette tapes (or CDs), photographs, books with a little message attached, and definitely be sure to call them often. Another cute idea is to put together a mini-scrapbook with photos and stories about special times you’ve shared. What child doesn’t just love to receive mail! And especially from the parent they are missing.