How to Connect With Your Child: A Real Parent’s Guide to Deeper Family Relationships

Before we dive into specific activities to connect with kids, let’s talk about what’s really going on in today’s families. Between work schedules, school activities, and everyone’s faces buried in screens (mobile devices are such a love-hate relationship), finding genuine connection moments can feel like searching for an iPhone charging cable in our house – you know it’s there somewhere, but it’s so hard to locate.

Many parents don’t realize that connection doesn’t require over-the-top actions or perfectly planned activities. Sometimes, the strongest bonds form in those small, seemingly insignificant /moments—like laughing together while making breakfast or sharing a quiet car ride. We have found that life happens in the little moments.

The Reality of Modern Family Life

Your daily schedule probably resembles this: morning rush, school drop-offs, work, activities, homework, dinner, bedtime, rinse and repeat. Sound familiar? In the middle of this busy routine, building strong family bonds might seem like just another task on your never-ending to-do list. Geez, my list is so long I have lost sight of the other end!! Lol! But here’s the good news: you can weave deep connections into these monotonous moments.

Quality Time with Children: Ideas That Actually Work

When it comes to spending quality time with your kids, it’s not about quantity – it’s about being truly present in the moments you do have. I have been so guilty of being physically present but being so emotionally and mentally checked out. Keep in mind that our schedule may look quite different from yours since we homeschool our girls and work from home. Here are some real-life tested approaches we use:

Morning Moments

• Start with a 2-minute snuggle – Ours last a little longer than this. We don’t have to rush out the door for school like most do so we enjoy our mornings together.
• Share one thing you’re looking forward to – I love to create a sense of excitement and expectation. This is a great way for kids to see your desire to connect with them.
• Create a special good morning greeting. This should be different for each kid. We have some who are bright-eyed in the morning and others who…well…they are tough to wake up and get moving.
• Make breakfast prep a team effort – Kasey is amazing at this. She has some breakfast options meal prepped in the freezer to help the morning flow. However, most of the time we are able to prepare the kids’ breakfast with their help before we start school.

After-School Connection

• Create a “download zone” for sharing daily stories – It’s all about creating space for some intentional time to let your kids replay their day to you.
• Ask specific questions about one part of their day – Show genuine interest in their day. Ask questions. You’ll be amazed at what you find out!
• Share a quick snack together – It’s all about the little things.
• Let them lead the conversation – See where they want to take you.

Bedtime Bonding

• Keep a routine, but be flexible – We like to watch Little House on the Prarie in the evening and get the girls in bed at the same time each night. It doesn’t happen every night but they look forward to the routine.
• Share your own childhood stories – As I look back at my childhood, I wish my parents would have done this. There are so many stories about their lives that I still don’t know. Don’t let your kids have these same wishes when they are adults.
• Create a special goodnight ritual – The little girls and I listen to a few minutes of an audio book most nights and pray together each night. Just be consistent. They will look forward to this time each night. I promise!
• End the day with gratitude – We do this by saying our bedtime prayers together and giving thanks for what we hold dear.

My older kids talk about the memories we made, especially at bedtime. I worked outside the home for most of their lives, so I didn’t get to experience the morning or after-school routines. My 21-year-old still talks about us reading all of the Chronicles of Narnia books. That took a long time! Lol! You are creating lifetime memories.

My 18-year-old likes to remember when we would read books about Lego adventures and hit foam golf balls at each other. Yes, I know, this was not a great thing to do before bedtime, but wow, we had so much fun!! AND we still laugh about those times!   

Ways to Bond With Your Child Through Different Ages

Have you wondered how to connect to your kids emotionally? Just when you think you’ve figured out the perfect way to connect with your kids…BOOM…they enter a new stage and everything changes. What worked for your toddler is probably going to make your teenager roll their eyes. Let’s explore age-appropriate ways to bond that actually work, whether you’re dealing with energetic preschoolers or teens who seem more interested in their phones and friends than family time.

Toddlers and Preschoolers (2-5 years)

• Get down on their level physically – Try to play on the floor with them or talk to them face to face. Yeah you may have to get down on your knees but there is something very connecting for them to have you on their level.
• Enter their world of play – Don’t be embarrassed. No one is watching.
• Use simple games for connection – It’s not about what you’re playing; it’s about the connection you make while playing.
• Follow their lead in activities – Let them use their imaginations. It will be a fun journey!

School-Age Children (6-12 years)

• Show interest in their interests (even if it’s Minecraft for the thousandth time) – My girls just learned how to dye their Minecraft sheep pink and purple. I think they’ve shown me twenty times. 
• Create special one-on-one time – For the past seven years, I have taken one of my kids to breakfast each week. So, on average, I get 12 one-on-one meals per year with each kid to really connect at a deep, intimate level.
• Start family traditions that can grow with them – Our family has always loved traditions. It’s a great opportunity for bonding and memories.
• Give them age-appropriate roles in family discussions and decisions 

Teenagers (13+) – Ever Wondered How to Build Trust with a Teeneager?

• Respect their space while staying available – Oh, wow, this is so difficult. Be consistent and approachable; eventually, they will want to connect. One of my biggest hopes is that my kids always feel that I am approachable…no matter what.
• Listen without immediately trying to fix – We all just want to be heard. Just listen. If you’re not sure what to do, ask if they need a solution or a safe space to vent.
• Share more about your own life and experiences – We learn through our mistakes and others’ mistakes. Don’t share just the good stuff. Some of life’s best lessons are birthed from failure.
• Find common ground in activities or interests – You may have to listen to music or do something you really don’t enjoy. Try to remember you are doing this to connect with your kid in their world.

Fun Activities to Build Parent-Child Relationships: Simple Ideas That Build Strong Bonds

You don’t need elaborate plans or expensive outings to create meaningful connections. I often times feel the effort has to be huge to make an impact. While the big activities can be really memorable, the little moments can provide the best opportunities for connection. Here are some everyday activities that can naturally strengthen your bond:

Daily Connection Opportunities

1. Cook together (even if it gets messy) – Be willing to try whatever masterpiece your kids whip up!
2. Take a walk around the block – Don’t be in a hurry to finish.
3. Share music you each enjoy – We are a music family. Every time I’m in the car with one of my older kids we always share the new songs we are hooked on.
4. Work on a puzzle or simple project – My youngest daughter likes to work on puzzles with me. It’s in the quiet that we catch each other’s eys and this dad melts!
5. Read together, even with older kids. – My older kids and I really like an author. We randomly bring up lines from the 20+ books we have all read.
6. Play simple card or board games – This is not our favorite thing but when the kids want to play a game we try to carve out the time.
7. Do chores as a team (make it fun!) – When you figure our how to make chores fun…let me know.
8. Share highs and lows of the day – When you create open and honest relationships, everyone wants to talk about how good or bad their day has been. It’s about consistanlty being there and always being interested in your kids’ lives. 

Weekly Connection Rituals

1. Family game nights – We are not huge game players but we are working on this because it is a great way to laugh off the weight of the week. 
2. Saturday morning breakfasts – Most Saturdays you’ll find most of us in the kitchen cooking and enjoying a big family breakfast.
3. Movie nights – All six of us pile on the sectional. Take it an extra step and discuss the takeaways of the movie. Don’t be weird about it because your kids will never want to watch a movie as a family again. EVER.
4. Family meetings with treats – We use these family meetings to plan out our seasonal bucket lists. Give it a fun twist and have a dinner or snacks you all enjoy.
5. Weekend adventure time – We love to thrift, garage sale, estate sale, and flea market as a family.
6. Crafting or creating together – As an artsy guy, this is right up my alley. We love to paint, draw, and do family crafts (especially around the major holidays).
7. Sports or active play – Our sports days are mostly filled with watching our kids play sports. We love family walks because it can be great for the entire family and we also let the kids get a little in front of us so Kasey and I can use the time to connect as well.
8. Nature exploration – Not our family’s thing but it is a great way to bond.

Building Family Relationships: Creating the Connections you Desire

Building strong family connections is a lot like growing and maintaining a garden which is something I totally suck at. It takes regular attention, the right conditions, and a ton of patience. Here are some ways to spend quality time with with your kids and to create a system that helps your family bond and thrive together.

1. Create Safe Spaces

• Designate judgment-free zones – Just let your kids and spouse talk. Don’t try to solve anything or change them.
• Make time for one-on-one conversations – This is one of the most important parts of bonding. Create space for intimacy to develop.
• Respond with empathy first – Connection is about meeting each other where you both are. 
• Celebrate efforts, not just successes – It’s proven that failure actually helps our brains develop appropriately. 

2. Establish Routines That Connect

• Morning check-ins – These can be super informal. I always make it a point that my kids know I am interested in what their day holds.
• After-school debrief time – When my kids get home I try to immediately ask them how their day went. This can help them know that I am invested in their life and want to be connected with what they have going on.
• Dinner table conversations – We eat dinner together almost every night. Kasey always talks about the dinner table being the place where relationships are built. I now undrstand that just by eating together it gives our entire family a chance to connect.
• Bedtime connection moments – I put my big kids to bed every night until they were about 14. I would sit and talk and we would pray together. I now do this with our younger girls. I cherish these moments!

3. Build Trust Through Consistency

• Follow through on promises – Ever wondered how to build trust with teenagers? Here it is… Oh this can be challenging. Not because you want to break your promise but…has anyone been so exhausted from the day and their kid says “you told me you would come outside and play later”? Do your best to be consistent.
• Be present when you’re together – I try to put my phone down and really be present. I’m not always successful but I try really hard to be attentive. Anyone have time with their parents when they were there but not there? Don’t do that to your kids. If you are there, do all you can to be present.
• Show up for the small moments – Intimacy is built in the small moments. The little things in life amount to so much.
• Apologize when you mess up – Wow. I have had to do this so many times. I have flat blown it so many times. Be humble, apologize, and ask for forgiveness. They are watching how you handle these situations and they will replicate your actions.

How to Handle Common Connection Challenges

Busy lives create connection pitfalls. Does anyone else feel like their family is pulled in every direction but the same? Here are a few ways to combat these challenges.

When Time Is Limited

• Use car rides for conversation – A local fast food restautant just had kids conversation starters as the prize with their kids meal. Ask your kids a question and just let them talk. Allow them to invite you into their world.
• Include kids in daily tasks – Time. This is what is required for a connection to be built. Create time by bringing them into your daily chores. My youngest has started to fold clothes with me. It’s our 10-15 minutes of alone time during the middle of the day.
• Make bedtime sacred. There are only a handful of nights I haven’t put our kids to bed in their entire lives. I won’t trade it. There comes a point in time when putting your kids to bed is weird. LOL! Enjoy it and do it while you can!
• Create quick connection rituals – Brief connections throughout the day add up.

When Dealing with Multiple Kids

• Rotate special time – I take each kid on a special Friday breakfast day. This is a wonderful connection time and opportunity to show individual attention.Also, get a list of questions to ask your kids to know them better. They will love to answer!
• Find group activities that work for different ages – Have a wide range of ages? Find something that works for everyone.
• Create one-on-one opportunities – In addition to the Friday breakfast days, I will take a kid with me most of the time when I run errands.
• Celebrate individual interests – Each of our kids is different. They like and enjoy different things. So, we do our best to celebrate the uniqueness of each kid.

When Technology Interferes

• Set device-free times – Our kids don’t get phones until they are 15 and no social media until 18. Devices are turning kids into zombies. Our younger kids TV time and game time starts at 4 each afternoon and ends around dinner. That’s it. If we gave them more they would take it.
• Use technology together sometimes – Have your kids sit with you so you know what they are doing online. This can give opportunities to talk though technology together too.
• Create alternative activities
• Model healthy tech habits – Remember, your kids are watching you. If you are addicted to technology, so will your kids. 

Moving Forward: Your Family Connection Action Plan

1. Start Small
   • Choose one daily connection moment
   • Pick a weekly activity to try
   • Create a simple routine
   • Build from there
2. Stay Flexible
   • Adjust to different ages and stages
   • Change what isn’t working
   • Keep what connects you
   • Add new traditions as you grow
3. Keep It Real
   • Not every moment will be perfect
   • Connection can be messy
   • Progress beats perfection
   • Celebrate small wins

Remember, building strong family connections isn’t about being perfect – it’s about being present. Some days you’ll nail it and others you may feel like a total failure. That’s normal, and it’s okay. What matters most is showing up consistently and trying again tomorrow.

Your children don’t need a perfect parent – they need a present one. Start with one small connection today. Small beginnings can lead to great things! Watch how these moments build into stronger relationships over time. After all, the strongest family bonds are built one small moment at a time.

What small step will you take today to connect with your child? Remember, every moment of connection counts, no matter how simple or small it might seem.