Understand my kids better and keep them happy

[happykid]

Hi everyone, I have this question to myself for long time , and I would just like to capture what everyone is thinking too. I know there are posts here and there, but just like to do one post that brings the thoughts together.

My biggest question is, how do I keep my kids happy? And how do I support them to grow happily while learning too?

(I have a dd 1 yr old, and a ds 5 year old now)
(I am also a working mum, 8-5, and I start seeing my kids after 5, how can I make use of all the time before they sleep)

activities
I do activities with my kids to keep them occupied.
We read books, my 5 yr old ds can now read back to me, and I am happy. On top of reading, how can I make these activities more meaningful and more engaging?

What else do you do?

technology

As my ds is getting older, I am thinking how technology is relevant to young kids? Is technology like a tablet suitable for young child?

What do you use technology for?

talking
This is the area that I am most unsure of.
Sometimes I talk to my 5 yr old ds, when he misbehaves, I think he gets it.
But I wish there are more talking between me and them. How can I gauge how are my dd and ds feeling? What do they think about various things? Especially now they are growing older, I want to be in a habit they can share with me their days, I want to be their safe place to talk.

But other than stressful situations, how and when do you 'talk' to your kids?

future worries
I read on MN so many growing up, and kids behaviour starting to change, and relationships become tense. Is there something that I can start doing to avoid the situation turn worse?

When do you start to take an action to be worried about these, and what would you do?

I know this question is a bit vague, because I don't know where would I start..

Hope to get some of your thoughts as parents.

I’m just picking up on the ‘talking’ section, because it seems a bit odd to me and I’m trying to clarify what you mean.

Sometimes I talk to my 5 yr old ds, when he misbehaves, I think he gets it

Is this the only time you talk to him? When he misbehaves? Don’t you talk to your 1 year old? Mine are 4 and 2 and I talk to them all the time. About what they’re doing, what we’re doing, general conversations about the world/people. They ask lots of questions which turns into a discussion. I ask questions about their day when they’ve been at pre school, and they tell me about their friends etc.

Do you not have conversations with your children?

If you are writing an article or a research paper you should openly state that.

@Justanotherzombie
@SoyDora

Yes sorry, I should state that I am researching on the transition between preteens to teens, and how to continue the good habits of parent-kids interaction all along.

I interact with my kids just like many parents would, and curiousity is the mother of learning I agree, and I like when my kids ask 'why why why'. That reminds me when I was small.

Maybe it's the research information and the negative effects that's giving me a worry now. I spoke to few parents who were in good relationships with their kids, just like how I am now. Then, as kids grow up, the talking relationship between parent kids is no longer as strong as they are. Kids have more to be secretive, like their love relationship. Just one topic, and kids can suddenly become a bit more reserved.

Part research, and part being worried as a mum.
Is there something I can do now to avoid situations head that way (in the future)? When should I start taking preventative actions?