How to Strengthen Bonds Between Mothers & Toddlers

The bond between a mother and toddler has both immediate and far-reaching implications. Children without a strong attachment have a greater risk of poor social and communication skills, states researchers with the Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University. By strengthening the mother-toddler bond, you can help give your toddler a positive start.

Instructions

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      Spend time with your toddler every day focusing on your child and striving to connect emotionally. A strong bond requires daily effort to build and you should see improvement gradually over time. This daily time need not be fancy or involved ̵1; it doesn̵7;t take much to capture a toddler̵7;s attention.

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      Develop special rituals to perform with your toddler that you will both come to know and enjoy, suggests the Parenting website. You might have a special ritual that you go through every morning when your child wakes up, such as singing a "good morning" song, or you could engage in a special routine before or during meals.

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      Initiate one-on-one interactions with your toddler, during which you focus on her completely with eye contact and engaged communication, advises the Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern Virginia. You might sing songs, tell stories, play finger games or ask questions during this time. The goal should be positive interaction in which you both are listening and talking to each other.

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      Read books with your toddler for a positive time that involves close contact, suggests the Parenting. Get comfortable on the couch with some books, snuggling in for pleasant reading time. Talk about pictures on the pages, pointing out objects that your child might recognize.

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      Use spontaneity in your interaction with your toddler. Keep life engaging, interesting and even funny to make it enjoyable. A toddler can appreciate humor and silly antics ̵1; especially if you surprise him with a goofy dance or a comical voice. Laugh often with your little one to build a happy bond.

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      Allow your toddler room to explore safely, advises the Center for Child and Family Policy. After childproofing your surroundings to ensure your toddler̵7;s safety, it̵7;s important to allow her to engage in healthy exploration of her world. Supervise and monitor her activities, but hang back to see what she does. This exploration helps the toddler learn safely, while knowing that you are there to provide security and safety as she learns.

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