There’s nothing more rewarding for a parent than to enjoy some quality time with the children. Joining in with fun and games might seem like a good way to bond with them, but are you going a bit too far?

Some children find playing with mum and dad can be rather competitive. Pushy parents are also annoying and often cause the child to feel inferior and incapable of doing things in a way they feel will please their parents. Apparently, fathers are the worst. Mothers have their fair share of boasting about their children, but fathers are often more competitive when it comes to playing with the kids. Research shows that one in sixteen children actually enjoys a few hours of daddy day-care but the rest dread it!

Sadly, many fathers admit they have to win when playing games with their children. And whilst play is important in a child's upbringing, many parents, mothers and fathers alike end up missing out on those valuable years of child's play, and those ever so cherished memories. You should realise that it would mean a lot to them if you got involved, but not to compete. Encouraging your children to engage in colourful activities increases their creative and imaginative side as well as their fitness. Parenting is hard work, but when you have a little play time with your little ones, it can help to take away any worries that you may have. It may seem hardly surprising that parents feel the need to compete with their children. Many already feel inclined to compete with other parents and their children. "Oh yes, my son's just been selected for the school football team," they boast. Only then, they receive a shock reply of, "That's nice. My daughter came first in the nationwide spelling competition."

Must you really be like this? What your child really needs is for you, the parents to connect with them in the special way those other, normal' parents connect with their children. Reading them a bedtime story at night, or simply talking to them about a subject that you know interests them can really make all the difference. And whilst they're still young, it's important to spend as much time with them as you can because these memories will stay with them when they become parents and you when you become grandparents. By setting a fine example of what parenting should be like when they're younger, you're providing them with guidelines to do as good a job when they have children of their own.

So, try and refrain from that competitive streak that you so badly possess, and start to enjoy some quality time with your child whilst they're still young. After all, you've got bigger problems in store when they reach their teens!