It is never too early or too late to develop a positive relationship with your child. Below are examples of age-appropriate activities that can help you bond with your child and open the lines of communication with your teen.

Activities to share with your newborn to 1 year old:

• Reading picture books and pointing at objects with your baby can help develop language skills.
• Gathering different textured fabrics from around the house and naming them for your child (i.e. soft, smooth, or stringy) can also help develop language skills.
• To learn more, visit: www.parentstages.com

Activities to share with your toddler:

• Toddlers enjoy hands-on activities such as finger paint and play dough. Plastic cookie cutters or small cups are always fun.
• Puppets are an ideal way to stimulate the imagination. Puppets can be made with small paper bags or socks. Start by telling your child a story, and then allow him to add on to the story or create one of his own.
• For more activities, visit: www.make-stuff.com

Activities to share with your preschooler:

• Some favorite games to play with children at this age include, red light, green light, and London Bridge is falling down.
• Playing memory games can challenge your child to use his memorization skills. An easy do-it-yourself way to play is to draw a variety of shapes, colors, or numbers onto paper, making sure there are two of each. Then cut them into squares. Place them face-down and take turns by turning two squares over at a time. If you pick a match then keep it. The game ends when the squares have all been matched together.
• For more activities, visit: www.teachersandfamilies.com

Activities to share with your school-age children:

• Create a scavenger hunt for your little explorer. Create a list of 5 to 10 objects they can find outside such as rocks, leaves (different colored one or different shaped ones), pinecones, sticks, etc. For a rainy day, find things inside. Some quick ideas are: something blue or round, or something soft.
• Card games are always fun with children. Go-Fish, Old Maid and Uno are some favorites. Children are learning multiple rules for one game and are able to take turns and play with mates.
• Fore more information, visit: www.scholastic.com

Activities to share with your adolescent:

• Cooking with your teenager is an excellent way to share an open style of communication. It is also an activity that increases creativity. The end result can allow you to praise your teenager on a job well done. Positive reinforcement is needed at this age to build confidence and self-esteem.
• Exercising with your teen can create a routine time to have one-on-one time with him or her. Walking or biking in the evening or in the morning can give a parent or caregiver the opportunity to listen to what the teenager is interested in and the teenager an opportunity to know you care. For more tips on communicating with your teen, visit www.parent-teen.com