Ask your child about one good thing that happened during the day.This might not always be as soon as your child gets home – it might be when your child is in the bath or just before they go to sleep. Stop what you’re doing and listen when your child wants to talk about school.But your warmth and positive attention are still the biggest influences on your child’s development. School-age children and pre-teens: positive attention tipsĬhildren’s worlds expand when they go to school. Tell your child that you missed them, or give hugs and high fives. Show your child you’re happy to see them after child care or preschool.Remember to smile and make eye contact with your child when you greet them in the morning – perhaps even take a moment for a special cuddle.Make time to do your child’s favourite activities together – for example, jigsaws, Lego, painting and so on.There are so many ways you can give your preschooler positive attention as they learn about the world. For example, ‘I love it when you help to pick up the blocks’. Tell your child exactly what you like about what they’re doing.When you’re playing with your child, comment on what your child is doing, without correcting them or trying to get them to do something differently – for example, ‘Wow, that’s a very tall tower! I wonder how many more blocks before it falls down’.When you’re talking together, leave time after you talk so your child can reply.This could be as simple as crouching down to look at a caterpillar together. Here are some tips for positive attention at this age: Notice what your baby is interested in and encourage baby to explore – for example, show baby how to shake a colourful rattle that has caught their eye.Īs children get older, they understand more of what you say, as well as how you say it.Chat about what’s going on around the two of you.Respond to the sounds your baby makes by saying something in return.Here are ways to give your baby positive attention: Newborns and babies: positive attention tipsĮven before babies can understand and use words, they respond to your tone of voice, gestures, facial expressions and body language. There are also ways you can show positive attention to children of different ages. Praise your child when they try out a new skill or make an effort with something – for example, ‘That’s a really beautiful drawing! Where did you learn to use shading like that?’.Make time to be with your child, doing things you enjoy together.Create some special family rituals you can share together.Pay attention and listen closely when your child talks to you. Show interest in what your child is doing – ask your child to tell you about it if they can. No matter what your child’s age, there are simple things you can do every day to send the message that your child is special and important. Or you can sit with your arm around your child while you watch television together. For example, you can give positive attention by cuddling and tickling your toddler while you’re drying them after a bath. Daily activities like changing a nappy, supervising a bath or walking to school let you connect with your child in meaningful ways. There are many ways to give your child positive attention. In fact, warm and positive relationships are key to children’s development. This gives your child confidence as they explore their world.Īll children do best in an environment where they’re supported, encouraged and enjoyed. If you smile at your child when they look towards you, or reassure your child when they’re frightened or uncertain, your child will feel safe and secure. Your child’s feelings of security and safety come from responsive interactions with you and other carers. A healthy self-image is very important, not only for your child’s relationship with others, but also for your child’s confidence as they learn about the world. Your child’s self-image builds up over time with positive, loving messages from you and other important people in your child’s life. Positive attention, reactions and responses from key grown-ups help children build a picture of how valued they are.
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