No matter what kind of world we live in or what the media tells us, a family is the most important thing. You feel this when you hold your child for the first time when you hear them laugh, the first time they walk, and every time they say “I love you”. Alas, soon this period of their lives is over and they leave the nest to become their own people. That can often be a scary and uneasy time of life, so they seek your help and want to hold on to their childhood much longer. To preserve those memories and remind your child they’ll always be your little baby, you can create valuable family memories.
1. Take family vacations together
Though the year may be borderline chaotic with school and work, there are a few weeks of the summer that can be pure bliss for the whole family. Traveling together will show your child that you’ll always have time for them and that the family will always be together.
Involve them in the planning part of the vacation to make them feel like a real part of the family and build their confidence. Spend those few weeks together creating new memories, going on adventures, exploring, and of course bending the rules a little. It surely won’t hurt to have dessert before dinner just once, right?
2. Release your inner child during playtime
Playing with your kid can be an excellent bonding activity. Step into their world and take a look at things from their point of view. This makes them feel understood and loved, while also building the trust between you. Of course, it’s also incredibly fun.
Nothing beats goofing around the house with your kid, playing hide and seek, building forts, or playing pretend. It’s a great stress relief for you, and a healthy outlet for your child’s excess of energy. No material gift can replace you treating them as an equal, and participating in their life actively.
3. Record memories from the start
Children grow incredibly fast; one day you’re swaddling your newborn, and the next you’re watching them run around the yard. That’s why it’s important to record the earliest memories. This way, both you and your child can reminisce on the time when they were nothing but a small baby you could easily carry around.
Since you can’t do much with a newborn, you need to come up with a creative way to record those memories. Australians have got it all figured out with adorable newborn photography in Sydney and other major cities. We’ve all seen the cute pics online of babies sleeping in little outfits with the scenery behind them completing the experience. Who said that that awe-inspiring bundle of joy on the photos can’t be yours?
4. A family that eats together, stays together
People underestimate the power a family meal holds. This is especially true in the face-paced world we live in now, where there’s just no way to sync in the schedules so everyone sits at the table at the same time. That being said, it’s not impossible. After all, eating together can create long-lasting bonds between the family and show your child true love.
You all have enough time during the day to share one meal together. Make dinner together, sit down, and talk about your day with your loved ones. It’s a simple family activity but it will mean the world to your kid, especially when they grow up enough to understand it. When they’re little, they only know eating together makes them feel loved, listened to, and valued.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are a lot of things you can do for your child to make them feel loved and cherished. It’s very important to nurture this relationship and strengthen the bond between you even when they’re adults. After all, despite the ages and the age gap, you’ll always have each other to rely on. We’re confident your child will appreciate and cherish the gestures and effort you’ve put into creating the most heart-warming family memories you could.
Author bio:
Mia Johnson is a freelance writer with a ten-year long career in journalism. She has written extensively about health, fitness, and lifestyle. A native to Melbourne, she now lives in Sidney with her 3 dogs where she spends her days writing and taking care of her 900 square feet garden.