| How many times have you been with your children but | | | | moment or two to discuss what they want, then they |
| not really been with them? You have instead been | | | | will be only too pleased to get on with what they were |
| thinking about the tea, our jobs, problems that you | | | | doing that didnt involve you. |
| have, been on the phone, or texting, watching the telly | | | | Really being with your child is a time when they will |
| or talking to someone else at the same time. To | | | | open up and talk to you. It is especially useful for those |
| improve your relationship with your children, make time | | | | teenage boys, who tend not to talk as openly as girls. |
| to actually be with them. | | | | If you feel like your teenage son for instance is looking |
| By totally focusing on being with your children you will | | | | fed up or upset about something, but wont talk to you |
| have much more enjoyment with them. They will feel | | | | about it, (Well, lets face it, did you tell your parents |
| that they are getting your full attention and that you | | | | everything!), they are much more likely to open up to |
| really care about them. | | | | you if they are doing something relaxing like going for a |
| Being fully there for your children is a really good time | | | | walk or playing football because they are put off by |
| to connect with them. When children come up to you, | | | | face to face talks. Make the most of being with your |
| this is the time that they really want you and it is a time | | | | children because they soon grow up and its then you |
| that they are ready to learn. If small children come up | | | | who wants to be with them more than they with you. |
| to you with their painting to show you, or a pretty | | | | Consider whether you could be with your child more. It |
| stone out of the garden, try hard to give them a | | | | is a great tip to watch out for those times that they |
| moment and look at it. You will find that they only want | | | | come up to you for something, if it was a colleague at |
| a minute or two, most likely not even that. If you are | | | | work who came up to you, you would most likely stop |
| too busy and act disinterested they will feel rejected | | | | and see what they wanted, or say can I get back to |
| and may start to play up for your attention by any | | | | you I really want to talk but I am busy at the moment. It |
| means possible to take out their frustration. | | | | works wonders with children as well. Think about if |
| Teenagers may even hang around you when they | | | | there is a time in the day that you could spend being |
| want to talk, (yes, they may not only want money!). | | | | with your child, do you do it enough and how you might |
| Noticing them do this will mean you can give them a | | | | improve on this week? |