We offer information and advice for parenting your baby, toddler, child, and teen:
Build a positive relationship with your child
Listen, respond, and connect with your child.
Your child's relationship with you is key to their health, development, and overall physical and mental wellbeing. Warm and responsive parenting builds a strong foundation for developing trust, confidence, self-control, and healthy relationships.
Spending time with your children, listening to them, and showing love and affection will help create strong connections. How you connect with your child may change as your child grows.
Listen
- Set aside time to talk. It is one of the most important things you can do to build a healthy relationship with your child.
- Show interest. Be face-to-face and make eye-contact to show them you are interested in what they are saying.
- Be present. Limit distractions like phones, tablets, and television, especially during meals and family time. Have family rules outlining when to use electronics.
Respond
- Show your child love. Physical contact like hugs and cuddles comfort your child and show them that you enjoy their company.
- Be calm and supportive. Parenting can be frustrating. Sometimes you might need to take a deep breath, or count to 10 before responding to them.
- Let your child or teen know you hear them. Feeling heard often helps more than advice or guidance.
Connect
- For babies and toddlers, get on the floor and play with them. Let them lead the playtime. Make funny sounds and laugh together.
- Eat and cook together as often as you can. Make mealtimes screen free.
- Have fun together. Do things you both enjoy like bike riding, fishing, or going for a walk.
- Reach out to your teen. Start by telling them about your day instead of asking them questions about theirs. This takes the pressure off and allows your teen to ease into the conversation.
It’s okay to take care of yourself
Taking care of yourself makes you a better parent. You'll have more energy and patience. You will also be role modelling to your children how to take care of themselves.
Self-care can include taking care of your physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and recreational needs.
Try making self-care part of your daily routine, such as taking walks, prioritizing sleep, and take a few minutes to eat a healthy breakfast. It’s okay to ask for help from family, friends, or your community.