When hearing these words ‘parent-child relationship’ what comes to your mind? Although it sounds simple to answer there is a more deep understanding of it. Parent-Child Relationship has to do with a unique and lasting bond between a parent and his child.
To understand the relationship between parents and children, we must look at the ways in which parents and children interact physically, emotionally, and socially. Think about your parents.
How has your relationship with your parents affected who you are today, or are you? Many psychologists believe that parent-child relationships are very important in determining who we are and how we interact with others and the world.
I tell you Parenting is the most rewarding and fulfilling work you can ever think of although it can be very stressful.
What is Parent-child Relationship?
According to study.com, Parent-child relationship refers to the unique and enduring bond between a caregiver and his or her child.
Similarly, it deals with the interaction between parents and children. How they relate physically, mentally and socially.
Many psychologists believe that the relationships between parents and children are very important in determining who we become and how we relate to others and the world.
Why is the parent-child Relationship important?
When you talk about the development of a child’s social, emotional, mental and even physical state, the parent-child relationship plays a major role.
However, this relationship lays the foundation for the child’s personality, life choices, and general behavior. It can also affect your physical, physical, mental and emotional health.
Important of Parent-Child Relationship
The impact of a positive parent-child relationship cannot be over-emphasized
Always Happy with others
A child who has a positive and healthy parent-child relationship with his or her parents will always feel happy and comfortable around other people.
Portrait Good Behaviour
Positive Parenting a child gets helps him or her demonstrate good behavior outside. the child tends to socialize freely with others and can ever trust people easily without been scared of been hurt.
Improves a child’s Skills
The kind of parent-child relationship a child gets from the parent affects the skills he or she is likely to possess. a child that experience positive parenting tends to have improved skills like communication skill and leadership skills.
Problem Solving Ability
Adapting to security leads to a healthy emotional, mental and motivational process. Children also gain a greater ability to solve problems when they have a good relationship with their parents.
Manage Emotional Stress
Also, a child that experienced a positive parent and child relationship learns to manage emotional stress and difficult situations.
Stages of Parent-Child Relationship
There are different stages of the parent-child relationship and each stage has its own unique demand and responsibilities. Let’s look at them together
Infant Stage building warmth and security
This is the first stage of a parent-child relationship. it is known as the building warmth and security stage. At this stage the child most times cry, eat, sleep, pee, and poop. And in response, the parents hold, feed, burp, change and wash the baby. These interactions lead to expectations.
Secondly, at this stage, the child gets cranky whenever he is hungry and also feels happy and excited when he is been fed fully to his satisfaction.
When parents perform their primary function of nurturing, loving, and caring for the child, it creates a well-defined and unique parent-child relationship.
Toddlerhood Stage
At this second stage, the child starts learning how to crawl and walk on his own. There is this excitement that comes when he or she starts working on his own without having to hold someone. However, at this stage, the child is said to be stepping into society.
When the child becomes a toddler, the focus is on shaping the child’s behavior by teaching, guiding, and nurturing him.
Furthermore, this stage of the parent-child relationship prepares the child to fit into a social group or society at large.
Preschool
At this parent-child relationship stage, the child starts developing a parenting style.
However, you cannot use one particular style consistently across all situations; you need to use a combination of strategies to raise children. And the parent-child relationship can be best described by the current parenting style adopted by the parents.
School age
The child starts knowing about the world beyond home. The child is being enrolled in elementary school, starts meeting friends and peer groups unlike when all his focus was on the parent.
With the child’s increasing cognitive and social skills, he goes beyond the home setting.
At this point, the child is able to express his or hern feelings, make demands about his likes and dislikes. Although Your parenting style will decide if the communication will be two-way or a one-way.
Parenting styles remain the same as the child grows and the style used in the preschool age continues to affect even in the middle-childhood age. Research studies indicate that in the case o
Adolescence
The parent-child relationship at this stage demands that personal space be given to the kids. Teenage is a turbulent and vulnerable phase, which brings about physical and psychological changes in the child.
Note, Parents should acknowledge and understand their teen’s needs, support them, and give them the freedom they need without being overly controlling.
Parenting with love and acceptance by adopting a positive approach even during challenging times can be an effective way to guide teenagers.
Adulthood — talking on equal terms
Adulthood is the time when stability starts setting in. The parent and the grown-up child are now able to relate to each other. Adult children are sometimes torn between their personal and aged parents.
It can be quite stressful to balance between the two. However, most adults do maintain a healthy relationship with their parents.
The requirements and priorities of one family are different from those of another. For instance, the bond you share with your child may not be the same as the one your friend shares with their child. This means that your type of parent-child bond is different from that of your friend.
So, what is your type of bond?
Now, this leads us to the types of Parent-child Relationship…..
Types Of Parent-Child Relationships
Parenting Styles might be as a result of the types of relationship. A P and child Relationship can be broadly categorized into the following (8):
Secure relationship
This is formed when the parents are consistently responsive to their children’s needs.
Note, A child that has a secured relationship with the parents is more likely to be independent and self-confident later.
The child interacts well socially and is better able to regulate their emotions.
Avoidant relationship
This type of Parent-Child Relationship is formed when the parents are not responsive to the needs of their children. The children are independent and take care of themselves as children.
Kids who experience this relationship are more likely to have poor social skills (e.g., withdrawal or aggression), and tend to be disobedient and impulsive.
However, this does not imply that they are destined to fail in life. Change can certainly occur as the child grows.
Unorganized relationship
In this relationship, parents neglect the children’s needs and the kids learn not to expect anything from their parents. In such cases, it is likely that one or both parents suffer from psychological conditions.
These children engage in meaningless activities and behave unusually.
Some of them tend to speak fast and make it difficult for the other person to comprehend their speech or behavior.
Ambivalent relationship
The needs of the child are sometimes met and sometimes not. Parents respond but not consistently.
For instance, the parent might not respond immediately to a child that is hungry or crying as they are busy with work. But they might respond after some time. These children grow up to be clingy and tend to be over-emotional.
Parent-child Relationship Tips
There are tips called parenting tips that you can follow as a parent if you really want to develop or build a positive parent-child relationship with your kids. However, some of these tips include;
#1. Having a lovely interaction
Treat every interaction as an opportunity to connect with your child. Be warm in your expressions, give eye connect, smile and encourage interaction.
#2. Have rules
Try talking to your children in the way they will understand. Make rules and set boundaries that they should follow as structure and guide to their life pattern.
#3. Give your kid listening ears
Acknowledge your child’s feelings, show them you understand, and reassure that you are there to help them whenever they have problems.
#4. Try solving their Problems
Help your child to problem-solve. Be a good role model and show them how to behave through your own actions.
When you work with your children to find solutions they learn how to deal with difficulties in an appropriate way.
