50 Simple Ways to Connect With Your Kids

Finding time to connect with your kids doesn't have to be stressful. Here are 50 simple ideas for connecting with your kids everyday!

Your family is busy.

Sometimes, you get to the end of the day and you realize you really haven’t even LOOKED at your kids. You’ve just shuffled them from breakfast, to the bus, to homework, to bed.

And then, the guilt sets in. You know connection is important, but it’s hard to fit it all in!

Making meaningful connections with your kids throughout the day doesn’t have to be time-consuming.

Look for ways to make mini-connections with your kids throughout the day. While driving home from school, standing in line at the grocery store, or when they are just hanging around the kitchen waiting for dinner to be ready.

Mini-connections are simple. They don’t require a lot of extra materials. And usually take zero prep.

Here are some ideas to get you started…

50 Simple Ways to Connect With Your Kids

  1. Smile
  2. Laugh
  3. Hug
  4. High Five
  5. Snuggle
  6. Wrestle
  7. Ask about their favorite (music, food, time of day…anything!)
  8. Play a board game
  9. Play a card game
  10. Make up your own game
  11. Sing a song
  12. Make up a song
  13. Have a dance party
  14. Be quiet together
  15. Color
  16. Read a book
  17. Tell a true story
  18. Make up a story
  19. Talk about when they were little
  20. Look at family pictures or baby pictures
  21. Write in a journal together
  22. Do a craft project
  23. Bake
  24. Cook
  25. Tell a joke
  26. Be silly
  27. Get down to their eye level
  28. Look them in the eye
  29. Share a snack
  30. Ask more questions
  31. Write a note
  32. Talk less
  33. Make paper airplanes
  34. Play Simon Says
  35. Play Tag
  36. Play Hide and Seek
  37. Give backrubs
  38. Paint nails
  39. Brush hair
  40. Take a walk
  41. Do yoga
  42. Watch a sunrise or sunset
  43. Make a fort
  44. Give them your full attention
  45. Be curious
  46. Join in their play
  47. Ask them to play with you
  48. Offer help with a complicated/unpleasant task
  49. Listen
  50. Say, “I am so thankful that you are in our family!”

It’s good to have a variety of ideas to try, but don’t be put-off by this list. Make it work for you (or make a list with your kids!)

If your kids are older, you probably won’t be playing Simon Says, but you could definitely listen or write a note. Maybe there’s no way you would do a craft project, but you wouldn’t mind looking through old picture albums together.

Let’s face it. Life is busy. And your kids need to feel connected to you.

When you start to focus on “mini-connections” throughout the day, you may find that you can do both!


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Nicole Schwarz (couch 3)

Welcome! I'm Nicole Schwarz.

I'm a Parent Coach, Licensed Therapist and Author of It Starts with You. I help stressed, overwhelmed, confused parents find calm, confidence and connection with their kids. No one is expecting perfection here. But, if you’re willing to examine your parenting, find encouragement, or try something new, this is the place for you.

Comments have been turned off to retain the privacy of all families. If you have a question or comment on the topic, you're always welcome to contact me.