The Cousin Bond

They say friends come and go, but family is forever. This cannot be more true. Whether you live in a joint family, or countries apart, cousins are probably the most important extended-family relationship your child will have. From a family wedding to facing a problem, cousins always enjoy and mourn together. And that is why, their bond is extra special.

An article in Thought Catalog describes the cousin bond as acting more like sibling than cousins, and more like best friends than siblings. It also states the significance of cousins' presence in everyday family life. "Family parties are infinitely more entertaining when you have a group who retreat from the holiday madness and just observe your hilarious relatives who never fail to live up to their dysfunctional reputations. They understand the ins and outs of said dysfunctional family from which you all come."

But there are numerous variables that determine the closeness of your child and her cousins. It might include geography, age gap and personalities. However, as a parent, it falls upon you to instigate a good cousin bond for your child, which might lead to healthy family atmosphere.

Whether your child's first playmates turn out to be her best friends or not, cousins still are an integral part of your child's early life. As Marion C Garretty put it, "A cousin is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost."

Flip through this ClipBook to learn more about the importance of cousin bond for your child and how you can help your child develop such bonds.