Spending time with your children is very important for them and for you.

• Talk to your children and listen to them. Make them feel that they are worth spending time on.
  
  
• Try to notice when their behaviour is good, and reward them with your attention.
  
  
• Notice the peaceful moments and point them out to your child, praising them and thanking them: “You are playing very nicely with your little brother and helping him, I like that, well done.”
  
  
• As a reward, offer to play a game with them or read them a story.
  
  
• Make sure that the activity is one that you can enjoy. There is nothing worse than being bored playing a game you hate! If you enjoy it your child will pick up on this and enjoy it too.
  

Your child will soon respond to the praise and attention he gets when he is behaving well.

Spending quality time with children is good for you too. It will allow you to relax and, at least temporarily, forget about work, money concerns or other more adult worries you have.

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