Maintaining Connection

School holidays often give us the chance to enjoy time with our kids and connect in ways that can be difficult to achieve during the busy school term. Enjoying playful, fun moments with them is not just good for the soul — it’s so important for our attachment with them. I have been enjoying lots of fun discussions with my kids lately, prompted by some ideas shared by #dynamicparents on their Instagram account. Here are some of my favourites, perfect for prompting small (sometimes hilarious) moments of connection:

• You get 3 wishes, but none can be for stuff. What do you wish for?

• If we won a holiday to spend two weeks anywhere in the world and you got to choose, where would we go?

• If animals could talk, which one do you think would be the funniest to talk to?

• If you found a friendly alien in your backyard who wanted to learn about Earth, what three things would you show them?

• If your toys could talk, what would they say about you?
  
  
• If you had a “YES” day, what would you do?

Another great way to foster connection is around the dinner table. Family Roast is a fantastic resource that offers themed discussion prompts designed to bring families together over shared meals. It is a fun, low-pressure way to open up conversations and hear each other’s thoughts, dreams, and stories - one question at a time.

Fiona Harris
School Psychologist | Clinical Psychologist