One of our biggest concerns for our kids today is how they can better connect with others during this time. What are some simple and practical ways to be more connected?
If your child is growing more fearful and more disengaged by the week, help them get creative. Creativity stops the anxious part of the brain from spiraling out of control.
Play. Get your hands dirty. No matter what age your child is, bring out the color by numbers, or even just a pen and paper and play some old school Naughts and Crosses, Hangman, or a new game you don’t know yet by simply asking, “what should we play together?”
Spend some one on one time together and allow yourself to be led by your child. Try to practice listening as you let them lead you through play or words, or both. 10 minutes a day is enough.
You already know it is ‘physical’ distancing and not ‘social’ distancing. Keep those calls on the schedule, whether it is a friend, a brother or sister living elsewhere or a grandparent. Say hi to the person walking their dog on your neighborhood. Keep smiling as wide as you can when your child walks into the room, even if they aren’t equally as happy to see you! By role modeling connection, your child will join in soon enough.
If your child is disengaging and seemingly less interested in getting out of bed in the morning, you can also help them change their routine. Encourage them to do something different so that they aren’t just operating on autopilot.
A helpful question to ask might be, “How can we have fun together today? What can we do that is different from what we usually do?” Pull out the Jenga. Start having traditions like Sunday Sundaes to look forward to. Fix the fishing rods.
Connecting starts with you. At home. And by all getting a little creative.
Smile when your child walks into the room. Let them know what you appreciate about them – not just that they sometimes* clean up after themselves. But that they are kind and genuine and caring. That they are good enough, just for trying. As are you!
