One such suggestion is that by supporting your children in their interests, you will improve your relationships with them. It sounds pretty easy right? And as a parent you may have different ideas of what "supporting your children in their interests" actually means. Some parents dote upon their children, supporting their interests by signing checks and swiping credit cards in order to make their children happy. Statistically there is no data to prove that children need to have everything they ask for in order to be happy. And wealthy families actually are reported to have more family disputes on average than families who are on a more modest income. Certainly supporting your child through money is not going to guarantee that you have a good relationship.

Let's look at a different type of parenting technique. You will probably agree that most parents exercise some constraint when it comes to satisfying their children's interests monetarily. Most parents are willing to attend events such as sporting games where their children are participating in that interest them. Surely this type of relationship and support will guarantee a healthy relationship. Well, it may be all of the attention that some children need and it is certainly convenient for a parent to know when and where they need to be on any given week to attend an event. But it just seems like it will take more to really get your relationship with your kids to the point where you want it to be.

Consider this; let's use the example of sports as being your child's specific interest. You may be a great soccer mom. Taking the kids to and from games, baking the occasional dozen cupcakes, and cheering from the sideline. But is that where your interest in your kid's interests ends? Perhaps supporting your child in their interests in order to improve your relationship with them takes more of an investment. Try to see the situation through the eyes of your child. There interests do not end simply because they are not acting on those interests at that very moment. A child's interests are part of who they are and what they believe that they are good at. A child is interested in improving their skills at whatever they are interested in. For the parent, it is honing in on these deeper interests that can really be a powerful tool.

Supporting your children in their interests involves time and effort. You may not always be able to practice throwing a ball in the back yard and you may have to miss the occasional art show. This does not make you a bad parent. However, showing interest in your child's interests shows them that you are willing to put them as a priority. Taking it a step further and initiating conversation or actions that are in keeping with your child's interests send a message to your child that you are aware of what they are good at and care enough about their interest to invest what it valuable to you in order to make your kids happy.