Parent-Child Bonding Activity

Here is a suggestion for a parent-child bonding activity. I realized as I was working in my home office yesterday that one of my most treasured items is a framed letter that my father wrote me in 1984 when I was a teenager. The letter is about love and independence, and allowing me the freedom to be the teenager I was becoming. I thought that these days with computers, our children do not receive many handwritten letters from us. I leave my children handwritten sticky notes around the house, but this is not the same as a love letter that they can keep and frame, and treasure forever as I have with the one my father gave me.

So I thought that this would be a nice activity to share with my children, and to incorporate into a session of The MotherDaughter Connection, a group that I used to facilitate for girls in grades 5-9 with their mothers.

Here are some questions that can help you brainstorm some poignant sentiments to include in your letter. You can also make this a family activity, with your child making one for you as well.

Questions for parent to consider in letter to child:

1. How did you feel the day your child came in to your life? If you were pregnant with him/her, how did you feel during the pregnancy? If he/she was adopted, how did you feel during the adoption period and anticipation of him/her becoming part of your family?
2. What makes your child unique? What are his/her special talents, personality characteristics?
3. What are your hopes for your child’s future?
4. What is a special day that you shared that you will always remember?
5. What is a daily or weekly activity that means so much to you?
6. What little “quirk” of your child do you love?
7. How would you describe your love and care for your child?

Questions for child to consider in letter to parent:

1. What makes your mother/father unique? What are his/her special talents, personality characteristics?
2. What does he/she do for you that makes you feel loved? Special?
3. What parenting responsibility does he/she do for you that you might forget to thank him/her for?
4. What are your hopes for your future relationship with your father/mother?
5. What is a special day that you shared that you will always remember?
6. What is a daily or weekly activity that you do together means so much to you?
7. What little “quirk” of your father/mother do you love?
8. How would you describe your love for your father/mother?

I loved this activity because not only did we share a special bonding activity together, but I love the idea that my children will have something special from me in my handwriting that they can keep through high school, college, their first apartment, and when they become parents.