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National Make a Difference to Children Month gives Savvy Aunties and Uncles an opportunity to make a positive impact on their niece or nephew. Here are some tips to help uncles make a difference through the act of sharing.

I’ve talked in this column before about the nuts and bolts of being a good aunt or uncle taking care of a niece or nephew. I’ve gotten on my soapbox about maintaining a trusted relationship with your loved ones. I’ve even talked about how to take your nieces and nephews to sporting events. The one thing I may not have shared is how you can share your interests with them to help them grow.
 
As I write this in early July, the Tour de France is cruising across France. I’m a cyclist and one of the main loves little girls and boys have is riding a bike. But what they know about biking is limited in most cases to training wheels, skinned knees, the bike rack at school and the rules of the road.
 
So, using the Tour de France and my cycling experience as an example, I’m going to show you how you can share your passions with your loved ones. It’s as easy as recognizing why you like a sport or a pastime and then allowing them to learn more about it. If you’re a painter, try these steps with painting. If you train dogs, try these steps with that avocation. It’s as easy as 1-2-3, and soon you’ll have a more complete connection with your loved nieces and nephews.
 
Let’s jump right in! (Remember, this is for cycling, but it works for anything.)
 
1. Find out what your nieces and nephews know about your pastime.
For cycling, ask them what they like or dislike about riding their bike (or tricycle). And see if you can get them to share with you stories of some adventures they’ve had on their bike. Listen attentively and ask questions. Find out all you can.
 
2. Teach your nieces and nephews about the sport or activity.
When talking about cycling and the Tour de France, I like to share with them the reason I’m excited about the sport. I tell stories about being in France and enjoying the culture. I also talk a bit about bike technology and how the riders become more successful. Finally, I share with them some information that they might find interesting, like how far the cyclists ride over the course of the three weeks of the Tour de France (2000+ miles).
 
3. Allow them to then share their interests back with you.
Without a clear give and take, you’re just going to be the uncle (or aunt) who talks AT your nieces and nephews instead of being the grown up who shares and listens to them. So find out what pastimes they enjoy and go through the whole process above with them. Find out why they like what they do. Find out the rules/particulars of their pastime. And then ask questions that show you’re interested in what they’re doing.
 
That’s it. Just follow the steps above to build a stronger bond with your nieces and nephews. Sharing what you love is as easy as riding a bike.

Photo: imagerymajestic
Published: July 9, 2013