Hello, I am a first-time parent of a toddler who is 2 years old. I have noticed that my child is becoming more independent and is starting to have his own interests. I want to strengthen my bond with him and create more meaningful moments with him. I am looking for some ideas on how to connect with my toddler and spend quality time with him. Any suggestions on activities or approaches that have worked for others would be appreciated. Thank you in advance for your help.

Hi there! I completely understand where you're coming from. As a mother of a 3-year-old, I've been trying to strengthen my bond with her as well. One thing that's been working great for us is setting aside a specific time each day for one-on-one playtime. During this time, I try to follow her lead and let her choose what we do. Sometimes it's playing dress-up, other times it's building blocks or doing puzzles. It's been amazing to see how much closer we've become since we started doing this.
Another activity that has helped us bond is reading books together. My daughter loves to snuggle up and read stories with me, and it's a great opportunity for us to connect and have conversations about the characters and the plot.
Outdoor activities have also been great for bonding with my daughter. We go on nature walks, visit the park and play hide and seek. She is very tactile, so we sometimes collect rocks, flowers, and leaves along the way.
It's important to remember that every child is different, so what works for me may not work for you. Just keep trying different activities and methods until you find something that clicks. Good luck!