Connect With Your Child But Do Not Overdo It

Posted on 27th December 2020
in Articles, Parenting
by Amy Stewart

We all want to connect and be involved with our child.

Children of involved parents generally feel more confident, assured and have a higher level of self-esteem.

They excel in school and do well in extracurricular activities and with their hobbies.

But is there such a thing as too much involvement?

It is imperative when you’re becoming involved with your school-aged child’s activities and academics that you recognize the line of what being too involved can be.

Remember, you are becoming involved in your child’s life.

It is also important that you do not intrude too much upon it.

Children need their space and privacy to focus and think better as well as their need to develop their own skills, talents and abilities.

In our eagerness to help our child succeed, it is tempting to want to step in and start doing things for them because you feel they are doing it incorrectly or inadequately.

But remember, you had to learn too, and this is their chance to learn on their own.

Be there to encourage and support your child and offer praise at a job well done.

But also remember to step back and allow your child to learn from their own mistakes and to develop their own way of doing things.

We all know from our own life experiences that there is always more than just one way to do something.

Just because your child is doing it differently than you would doesn’t make it wrong.

Who knows, it could present a terrific opportunity for you to learn from your child as well.

In addition, try not to become too overbearing or nosy when it comes to their social life.

Be available for them should they need to talk and encourage them to share their troubles with you so you can help them sort through a problem.

But if they say they do not want to talk about it or they just need some time to figure things out for themselves, respect that need by letting them know you’re available whenever they need you.

This is an important part of growing up and allowing a child to figure his own way through things is an integral part of that process.

Winsome Coutts holds a teacher’s certificate in education and is author of Go for Your Goals for kids – a set of downloadable e-books that guide your child through the joyful steps of learning visualization, goal-setting and the Law of Attraction.