While you are strict, disciplining, and provide materialistic support for your children, it is important to spend “time” with them. You don’t have to just do productive things. Sometimes doing simple things like gardening, repairing something at home, or even watching TV with them helps build lifelong bonds with your children. Yes, watching TV with your children is a great activity for enhancing and building parent-child bonds. Three reasons that should motivate you to watch TV with your child regardless of their age:
Build understanding: When a parent watches TV with their children, they usually argue and then mutually agree to watch something that appeals to both of them, or perhaps one of the parties would have to compromise. This should be seen as an excellent opportunity to teach children about adaptation. It is very important to learn the lesson of making some adjustments in your life for your loved ones. Additionally, parents and children develop mutual understanding and respect for each other’s decisions. Of course, both parties need to take turns making that little sacrifice for the other. Only then does trust and understanding develop.
Discussion and friendship: when parents and children watch something together, there will always be a different perspective on the issues; By discussing and debating amicably, both parties can better understand the issue. Discussion and debate encourage children to think clearly and express their thoughts, and also to receive guidance and correction from the experienced parent. Never debate with authority because that will prevent the child from thinking freely. The idea is to teach the child to look at problems from all angles. Do not be critical or dismissive, otherwise you will never know what the child is thinking and he will not even want to tell you. You want to encourage freedom of speech and free thought here. Each generation thinks differently. Open your mind and have a healthy discussion or debate, without heated arguments. It is not necessary to agree with a point of view, the questions can be left without conclusion. The idea is to make the child think. If handled carefully, discussion improves the relationship and increases family understanding.
Bridging the Generation Gap: When parents watch the shows their kids want, and alternately kids see what the parents like, they both learn to understand the perspective of the other generation. It is very important to close the generation gap, and that too in a respectful way. This helps solve other problems that come up later in life. Parents understand the challenges, likes and dislikes of the new generation and, on the other hand, children understand why their parents think and advise the way they do.
In the end, it is important to enjoy each other’s company, spend time together, and respect each other. Respect is a keyword here. Just as parents expect children to respect them, even children need their parents’ respect as they grow.