Bonding with Kids for None-Kid People
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Bonding with Kids for None-Kid people
Now I don't want to say I dislike children as a whole, it's more like I'm not the type who enjoys their company for more than a few hours at the time. Working in a school for a few weeks kind of put me off, and seeing my friends with their kids I'm pretty amazed at how they can manage it. Having said that, I do have a young 4 year old nephew who I think the world of. He is adorable, bright blonde curly long hair, large blue eyes, and such a character! Over the past 4 years I have managed to bond with him, despite finding it at times exhausting. So I've made a quick guide for those who have little experience with kids, on how to bond and play with them in a way that won't mentally and emotionally drain you.
1) Encourage their Creativity.
Kids love to make up games, or expand upon games they already know. This can be silly and ridiculous, but in the best kind of way. My nephew for example likes playing "Dinosaur Swimming Party." Where he gets his plastic dinosaurs ready for a swimming party (held in a large sink bowl.) Sounds simple, but when you let him run with it there ends up being a dinosaur bouncer on the door, not letting one dinosaur in because he splashes too much. He has to say sorry to another dinosaur for splashing, then draw a picture for her out of chalk. Sometimes Ninja Turtles get involved (they are the life guards) and sometimes the game strays so far away that we end up in a Star Wars Light saber shop in the shed. Basically, let the kid run wild with their ideas, join in and enjoy switching your brain off for a while!
2) Ask THEM Questions
If you've been with a kid for more than twenty minutes, you probably know that they like to ask a lot of questions. Rather than just answering and waiting for the next, give a compelling answer and then ask them a question, preferably involving their interests. "Why do worms live in the dirt?" "They can hide from birds and dirt good for them to eat! What do you think could be in the dirt that worms would like to eat?" Then let them guess and enjoy their thought process and answers before giving them the right one.
3) Reenactments
I don't know any kid who didn't like to 'play' their favourite TV show, or film, or video game. When I was young, we used to play things like Sonic and Harvest moon in the open area near our home. My nephew likes to re-enact episodes of Rory the Racing car and Paw Patrol, which I highly encourage. These shows actually have really good messages for kids - have you seen Rory? I've learnt more about physics from that show than I did at school! Nowadays, if a particularly fun or educational episode comes on, I jump at the chance to reenact it. I'll suddenly lie on the floor and pretend to be stuck in a mud puddle, or get one of his toys and say it's trapped on top of a building and we have to rescue it. He's nearly always up for it.
4) Energy conserving Toys
So by now you're probably getting tired while the kid is still bouncing around. No worries, a remote control car or plane, or even a robot, ensures you can continue playing whilst giving your body a rest. These can be super cheap and run off batteries, and provide endless entertainment. Plus kids love them. My nephew loves drawing on the pavement with giant chalk, as well as drawing and colouring in general. A good trick is for you to start it, and make it seem really fun, before inviting them to try it too - if they don't already start by themselves.
5) Good Communication.
Children respond to visuals as much as words. Let them know when you are happy or pleased with them by smiling and speaking in an enthusiastic manner. If they do something wrong, don't tell them off our shout at them, calmly explain why it is wrong and ask if they understand, then give them an alternative way around the problem, and ask if they understand why that is better. Be willing to answer any questions they may have, and remember to ask questions back. Kids can be easily distracted by new and exciting things, so be sure to have plenty of back up plans in case of sudden tantrums - even the most well behaved kids have em!
That's about the extent of my knowledge, having spent 4 years with an incredibly hyper, creative and intelligent young man. The most important thing is to remember that your child is a reflection of you - everything you teach is what they will become. So be patient and make the most of their first years, because they fly by!
Now I don't want to say I dislike children as a whole, it's more like I'm not the type who enjoys their company for more than a few hours at the time. Working in a school for a few weeks kind of put me off, and seeing my friends with their kids I'm pretty amazed at how they can manage it. Having said that, I do have a young 4 year old nephew who I think the world of. He is adorable, bright blonde curly long hair, large blue eyes, and such a character! Over the past 4 years I have managed to bond with him, despite finding it at times exhausting. So I've made a quick guide for those who have little experience with kids, on how to bond and play with them in a way that won't mentally and emotionally drain you.
1) Encourage their Creativity.
Kids love to make up games, or expand upon games they already know. This can be silly and ridiculous, but in the best kind of way. My nephew for example likes playing "Dinosaur Swimming Party." Where he gets his plastic dinosaurs ready for a swimming party (held in a large sink bowl.) Sounds simple, but when you let him run with it there ends up being a dinosaur bouncer on the door, not letting one dinosaur in because he splashes too much. He has to say sorry to another dinosaur for splashing, then draw a picture for her out of chalk. Sometimes Ninja Turtles get involved (they are the life guards) and sometimes the game strays so far away that we end up in a Star Wars Light saber shop in the shed. Basically, let the kid run wild with their ideas, join in and enjoy switching your brain off for a while!
2) Ask THEM Questions
If you've been with a kid for more than twenty minutes, you probably know that they like to ask a lot of questions. Rather than just answering and waiting for the next, give a compelling answer and then ask them a question, preferably involving their interests. "Why do worms live in the dirt?" "They can hide from birds and dirt good for them to eat! What do you think could be in the dirt that worms would like to eat?" Then let them guess and enjoy their thought process and answers before giving them the right one.
3) Reenactments
I don't know any kid who didn't like to 'play' their favourite TV show, or film, or video game. When I was young, we used to play things like Sonic and Harvest moon in the open area near our home. My nephew likes to re-enact episodes of Rory the Racing car and Paw Patrol, which I highly encourage. These shows actually have really good messages for kids - have you seen Rory? I've learnt more about physics from that show than I did at school! Nowadays, if a particularly fun or educational episode comes on, I jump at the chance to reenact it. I'll suddenly lie on the floor and pretend to be stuck in a mud puddle, or get one of his toys and say it's trapped on top of a building and we have to rescue it. He's nearly always up for it.
4) Energy conserving Toys
So by now you're probably getting tired while the kid is still bouncing around. No worries, a remote control car or plane, or even a robot, ensures you can continue playing whilst giving your body a rest. These can be super cheap and run off batteries, and provide endless entertainment. Plus kids love them. My nephew loves drawing on the pavement with giant chalk, as well as drawing and colouring in general. A good trick is for you to start it, and make it seem really fun, before inviting them to try it too - if they don't already start by themselves.
5) Good Communication.
Children respond to visuals as much as words. Let them know when you are happy or pleased with them by smiling and speaking in an enthusiastic manner. If they do something wrong, don't tell them off our shout at them, calmly explain why it is wrong and ask if they understand, then give them an alternative way around the problem, and ask if they understand why that is better. Be willing to answer any questions they may have, and remember to ask questions back. Kids can be easily distracted by new and exciting things, so be sure to have plenty of back up plans in case of sudden tantrums - even the most well behaved kids have em!
That's about the extent of my knowledge, having spent 4 years with an incredibly hyper, creative and intelligent young man. The most important thing is to remember that your child is a reflection of you - everything you teach is what they will become. So be patient and make the most of their first years, because they fly by!
Shavkat › Nice article
