7 Ways to Connect with Your Kids

Children need connection now more than ever before. Just like food and drink are essential for survival, human connection is also vital for thriving.

Humans were made for connection. Throughout the pandemic, children and adults alike have experienced isolation and disconnection from the world and one another. The opposite is true, too. As a result of the pandemic, isolation brought families closer together. However, now that things are going somewhat back to normal, families are once again disconnecting.

Kids who feel strong connections with their parents often do better in life overall. They’re the ones who want to cooperate and spend time with their families. In a life revolving around a pandemic and increased technology use, it seems like connecting with kids is more challenging. The good news is that there are simple ways to ensure you maintain a relationship with your kids.

Here are seven ways to connect with your kids, and once you do these, you’ll notice your relationship transform positively.

1. Talk to Them — and Listen

Talking is an effective and straightforward way to connect with your kids. When you get home from work or pick up your kids from school or the daycare, take a few minutes to ask them questions about their day. Give them your undivided attention and actively listen as they tell you stories.

Try to remember things they tell you about, like a new friend or something exciting that happened in their day. Bring up those points later in the day to show them you care and are paying attention to them. Additionally, tell them about your day. They’ll love hearing what goes on at work!

2. Find a Common Hobby

You won’t always be interested in watching Paw Patrol for hours on end, and your kids may not want to help you clip coupons as a nightly activity. However, you can try to find a common interest or hobby that you both enjoy. Figure out what activities your kids enjoy. You might be surprised that you like a similar activity.

If you can’t find a common hobby, explore something new with your child. Try to find something neither of you has done before but may have a slight interest in. Explore the hobby together and continue trying new things until you find a common pastime.

3. Play with Them

Laughter is one of the most powerful ways to connect with someone. Dive into playtime with your kids to truly connect on their level. Kids need play, and sometimes, parents need to bring out their inner child and imagination. This can help relieve the stressors of the day and may even bring healing to your lives together. 

When you laugh, you stimulate oxytocin and endorphins, which help you further connect. Tell funny stories or jokes and play somehow, whether it’s tossing a ball, rough-housing or making silly faces.

4. Offer Physical Affection

Physical affection offers immediate connection. You’re physically connecting with your child when you give them a hug, high-five, snuggle or kisses. As long as your child is okay with physical contact, you can make it a point to offer physical affection throughout the day.

Start their morning with a hug. Give your kids high fives as they complete chores or do their homework. Offer a kiss before bedtime or when they leave for school. Snuggle up with a good book at night.

5. Prioritize One-on-One Time

If you have multiple children or even have a busier work schedule, make sure you set aside time every day for uninterrupted one-on-one time with each of your children. Those moments will make them feel extra loved and special to you!

Schedule just 15 or so minutes every day with each of your children. Make this time all about them, and have them decide how to use it if they’re old enough. Maybe you can play together, talk to one another or get ice cream together. Follow the lead of your child, and your connection will grow.

6. Be Present

Is your child involved in sports, music or another activity? Be present when they have games or shows. Make it a point to set aside work or errands and be present during their events. Show your support no matter what they’re involved in to help connect with them.

Additionally, be present in their daily lives. When you’re interacting with your kids, put everything else aside and focus on them. You only have so much time before they’re adults and move out of your house. Connect with them 100% as many times as you can throughout the day. 

7. Let Go of Technology

Finally, learn to let go of technology. Technology can be an extremely useful tool. That has certainly proven true this past year. It has allowed people to safely connect despite a pandemic. However, technology can also be a distraction and take time away from in-person interactions.

Turn off your phone, close your laptop and put the television on pause when you interact with your children. Set aside technology-free times each day, and designate places to be tech-free zones, like restaurants, at the dinner table or while you’re outside. Technology has become a replacement for human interaction, which has encouraged disconnect between parents and their children.  

How Will You Connect with Your Kids?

There are countless ways you can connect with your kids. Whether you hug them a little longer or play a few more rounds of a game, you’re making an effort to connect with your kids and be a positive influence on their lives. Your kids need you — keep pursuing those moments where you two can connect.

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