Make this holiday season a time to bond with family

THE holidays are here and they bring with them a wonderful opportunity for families to spend time together‚ laugh and enjoy activities together and, in so doing‚ reconnect and bond in deeper‚ more meaningful ways.

Cindy Glass‚ co-founder and director of afterschool remediation franchise Step Up Education Centre‚ offers her tips on how to reconnect with your child‚ whether travelling or staying at home this festive season:

Create a sense of excitement within the family: Have something to look forward to. Choose to make this holiday one of family connection. Encourage tolerance‚ love and peace by being tolerant‚ loving and peaceful yourself.

Listen without judgment: “Holidays provide a great opportunity to stop and listen. Your children want connection as much as anyone on the planet and being heard is essential in achieving this. Ask questions about each other’s lives. Let your children teach you about their passions and interests – you may just be in awe of how your children view life. So often children shut the doors of communication for fear of how their parents will react – if connection is your goal‚ listen without judgment.”

Expect challenges: Things can‚ and will‚ go awry from time to time. Allow for these moments. Own them when they happen and find positive solutions. It is how each family member chooses to react to challenges that will make or break your holiday.

Be prepared: If you are travelling and you know that boredom could lead to a frustrating journey‚ make sure that you are well prepared with exciting treats and some games to play in the car. Some old favourites like “I spy”‚ 20 questions and adding numbers up on licence plates can keep little people entertained for hours.