Why aunt and uncle relationships are unique?

 For the most part, people can­not choose whether or not to have a relationship with their parents. They grow up in the same house, they see each other, talk together daily, and they have an ongoing, hopefully, positive rela­tionship.

Aunts and uncles have more freedom than parents in choosing to develop a relationship with a niece or nephew, and both must be inter­ested in forming that bond.

Aunts and uncles desiring to be close to their nieces and nephews can choose ways to interact with them that will strengthen their relationship

1. Role model

One of the most important roles for aunts and uncles is to be a role model. A role model is someone that influences behaviour just by observing how they act. Aunts and uncles can influence their nieces and nephews just by what they do, without saying a word. Aunts can also show their nieces an example of what they may want to be.

2. Friend

Aunts and uncles can also be more of a friend with their nieces and nephews. An important quali­ty that many nieces and nephews name in their parents’ siblings is their ability to have fun. This friendship allows the aunts and nieces (or uncles and nephews) to be involved in common activities they enjoy, such as sports or shop­ping.

3. Supplemental parents

One role that aunts and uncles often have that is very important is to act as supplemental parents. Aunts and uncles can be comple­mentary to their siblings by provid­ing additional support, to fill the needs that the parents are unable to take care of themselves. This can include providing another support­ive adult that kids can go to, to do their hair before a school dance, or by helping to drive them to all the places they need to go. Uncles and aunts can also reinforce the ideas that the parents are trying to teach, such as the importance of education or being kind to your siblings.

4. Buffers between parents and children

Aunts and uncles can also act as intergenerational buffers. This means that they can help mediate the relationship between parent and child.

Instead of siding with one or the other, uncles and aunts can help each family member to try and see the other’s side of the argument.