Books for Bonding with your Child

Is your child being clingy, following you around the house, or maybe having difficulty going to school? Perhaps your child is asking you question after question to get your attention. Maybe even having a hard time going to bed at night? Then your child may benefit from ‘Special Hangout Time.’ Setting aside 30 minutes weekly to focus on one-on-one time with your child will promote their self-esteem and strengthen your relationship. Maintaining a consistent schedule allows your child to look forward to sharing time by creating a space to put the phones and tablets down and connect, creating safety in your relationship by decreasing anxiety. After a few weeks, your child should feel more confident in themselves because of your stronger parent-child relationship.

If starting this new routine feels uncomfortable, beginning the first few hangouts with expressive art books together is easy. There are two excellent books to start with: “My Many Colors of Me: Workbook” by Clair Mellenthin uses art therapy techniques to help your child understand their emotions. Sit side by side as your child colors this workbook and a bonding moment that teaches emotional identification. This book is excellent for children of all ages, even teenagers! The second book is “You are Amazing” by Holly Willard. It explores self-esteem and teaches setting personal boundaries. Completing these workbooks with your child will foster safety in their relationship.

These books will help jump-start the emotional bonding with your child and create a magical time different from the rest of the week. Your child will begin to look forward to this one-on-one time with you!

The books mentioned are available for purchase at the Wasatch Family Therapy Sandy location!