Natural Parenting Older Children

By Smilinglikesunshine @smilinglikesuns

Hello friends and happy April! To celebrate the spring and the Earth Month I have collaborated with fellow bloggers. This is the perfect time to talk about natural parenting and teaching our children about sustainable living. Please find the schedule of the topics here.
I have always been interested in natural parenting and tried to practice it with both my children. I have opted for and was lucky enough to give birth to them in a birth pool, I have breastfed them long term.

We have slept with them in our family bed until they were ready to move on. Now that they are older (8 and 5) these are all lovely memories of the past but  they obviously still need that deep connection.
I try to make sure to have some one to one time with each of them at least once a week.It doesn't have to be a special occasion, just cuddling on the sofa and reading a book, playing a game,cooking together, crafting or simply colouring in a sheet. I don't know about your children, but when I ask my children about their day at school, they are reluctant to tell anything. But when we are doing something together, usually crafting or colouring in, they will open up without me asking them anything.
A nurturing touch, a listening ear,holding hands  and responding with sensitivity is all they need and want. At times, in our rushed daily life, if we skip doing any of these, children usually let us know about their unmet needs by trying to get our attention.
This year Derin started school. In the UK, children start to Reception at the age of four. Although Derin, being born in January, is one of the oldest children in the class, most of the times he is exhausted at the end of the day. Once he enters the house, he is tired and grumpy. I found that just sitting down together cuddling on the sofa helps him so much. Rather than giving him snacks until dinner time, I  try to get their dinner ready by school pick up time, so he has a proper meal and then he can eat healthy snacks if he is hungry by bedtime.
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