30 ideas to create meaningful moments of connection with kids
Want to create meaningful moments with your children, foster memorable loving family memories for your kids and prioritize daily intentional connection and positive affirmations for kids to teach self-worth, self-esteem, confidence and self-love without any extra time or resources?
Enjoy 30 ideas to create moments of connection, love, confidence-building and affection with children. Foster quality time with kids and create lasting fond memories with quick and easy routines that develop children’s longterm sense of safety, self-worth, confidence and self-esteem.
Scroll down for 30 easy ideas!
Want 1,000+ fun preschool pritnables to teach every kindergarten readiness skill?
Teach Math, ELA, Science, Social Studies and Social Emotional Learning (SEL, character education and social skills) printable activities to teach all 25 math, 25 ELA, 15 SEL, 6 science and 6 social studies skills .
Enjoy printable worksheets, no prep play-based activities and instructional videos for educational alternatives to screen time.
This product is designed for parents or educators leading a homeschool curriculum or who simply want fun educational activities, but can also be used for educators in a classroom setting. This product is perfect for full and part-time homeschool, distance learning or for use in a traditional classroom setting. Effortlessly teach EVERY preschool skill with this no prep curriculum. You can put the handouts in dry erase pockets or sheet protectors and use washable dry erase markers to use the same handout again and again.
Since this curriculum covers every preschool and kindergarten readiness math, science, social studies, reading, writing, language and literacy standard, and since every child will begin this curriculum with different skill levels and prior knowledge, you may wish to skip certain activities while repeating other activities again and again. Pick and choose activities based on your child’s skill level and consider checking off the ones you complete.
Want to teach every preschool and kindergarten readiness skills in just minutes a day?
Enjoy simple conversation starter questions, read along stories, music and movement (song links, active games, exercise and dance moves) and no prep activities to teach preschool literacy (reading, writing, language, sight words), math, science (STEM), character education and more in just minutes a day throughout your daily routine to teach every early learning skill.
You can connect and learn with your 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 year old child and prepare toddlers and young kids for preschool and kindergarten in just minutes a day. See the week 1 sample below!
Want 36 weeks (180 days) of play-based preschool learning activities for parents or teachers (1440 preschool activities)?
Want free virtual library story times, sing alongs, preschool circle time videos and instructional videos to teach early phonics and math skills?
Enjoy 6 children's book read aloud and 6 fingeryplay nursery rhymes in each of my 20-minute learning videos for babies, toddlers or preschoolers to learn letter sounds, rhyming, numbers, counting, colors, shapes, social emotional learning, character education and more! Enjoy videos for free learning activities for early learning activities for parents or homeschool preschool curriculum.
Click for free virtual library story times!
30 ideas to create meaningful moments of daily connection to foster love and self-worth in kids.
Every day, say and do the following as part of a morning, bedtime or anytime ritual to make kids feel loved and special as you build longterm self-worth and self-esteem:
Every day, say, “Big hug, little hug” as you alternate between gentle pats on the shoulder to tight squeeze bear hugs.
Every morning start the day with, “What did you dream about?”
Every night, end the day with, “What will you dream about tonight?”
Every morning and night, start and end the day with, “I love you so much. I am so lucky I got to have you as my baby.”
Every morning, when you first see them start the day with, “Yay! You’re awake! Good morning. I love you so much. What should we do yo make today great?”
Every night, end the day with, “What was your favorite part of the day? My favorite part was…(doing something with child). Good night. I love you so much. Happy dreams.”
“Do you know that I love you…all day and all night, all summer and all winter, inside and outside, at the park and at the zoo, when we’re close and when we’re far away, when we’re angry and when we’re happy, when we’re sad and when we’re excited, when it’s raining and when it’s snowing, in the morning and the afternoon, when I’m working and when we’re playing, when we’re in a car or a plane, when we’re grumpy throwing a tantrum or laughing our heads off, etc.?” Your kids may start to add their own: “When we’re dancing and when we’re reading, when we’re at school and when we’re asleep?”
“Do you know that I love you more than anything in the whole wide world?”
“I am the luckiest mommy in the whole wild world. I could have been given any kid, and I got you! Thank you, thank you, thank you for being you! I am so grateful I was given you as my baby! I am the luckiest person in the whole world. I love you! I love you! I love you!”
“Do you know you are perfect just the way you are? I love you so much!”
Ask questions to start meaningful conversation:
Would you rather…be a dolphin or an eagle, teleport or time travel, etc.?
What is your favorite bird, ocean animal, land animal, food, activity, place, etc.?
Why do you think…we laugh, the sky is blue, birds migrate, there are tides, moon phases, sunset and sunrise, etc,?
What if…you could talk to animals, your toys came to life, you could go anywhere, etc.?
"When they are away from you for a few hours, “ Yay! I am so excited to see you! I missed you so much!”
Swap, “Good job” with: You (insert concrete action). That is/shows (insert positive character trait).” For example:
“You filled the whole page with color. That took a lot of patience and hard work.”
Thank you for picking up your toys. That is so helpful. I really appreciate it.”
“You were scared and did it anyway. That is really brave.”
“You couldn’t do it the first time but you tried again a different way and succeeded. That shows real dedication and perseverance. You can do anything when you believe in yourself and keep trying until you succeed.”
You made me this for me! That is so thoughtful and considerate! Thank you so much.
You shared your toys/snacks? That is so generous and kind of you. Thank you. I really appreciate it.
Why does this matter? When you focus on the behavior, effort or process and label the positive character trait, it motivates children to identify with and intentionally embody those traits instead of seeking extrinsic praise for success.
It is important to label the behavior and not the child as the positive character trait so they realize they can choose to embody certain traits instead of worrying that they’ll fall short of your expectations to be brave, helpful, hard working, etc. in moments when they don’t embody these traits. The same goes for undesired behaviors.
Swap, “I am so proud of you” with: “I am so happy for you. You must feel so proud of yourself.”
Why does this matter? Kids shouldn't feel like they have to perform or do things right or well to make you proud or to earn your love and respect. Reframing this statement builds an intrinsic drive to succeed and shows them you are happy for them, support them and are always proud of them no matter what, not only when they do specific things that make you proud.
Swap “You make me happy” with: “Do you know how awesome you are? I am so lucky to have you. You make the world a better place just by being you. You are perfect just the way you are, etc.”
Why does the matter? Believe it or not, even positive statements like “You make me happy” can develop a sense of codependence - the feeling of obligation that you are responsible for other people’s feelings. Very loving, emotionally supportive parents can unintentionally come across as emotionally needy or emotionally draining.
Whether or not it is the intention, parents who use language like, “you make me happy” or the alternative, “that makes mommy sad” or “you’re making me lose my temper” will raise children who feel guilty whenever they feel they didn't do enough to make their parents feel happy.
After you lose temper, have a power struggle, yell, give consequences, etc: “I am sorry I lost my temper. It is never your fault when I yell or get angry, I am working on taking deep breaths and staying calm and practicing better self-control when I am frustrated. Even when I am yelling, saying, “No!” or acting angry, stressed, distracted or frustrated, I still love you so much every second of every day. It is also never your fault when I am sad or stressed. It is not your job to cheer me up. My feelings are my own and I love you even when I am sad, frustrated, angry, in a rush, stressed, etc. You are perfect as you are. I always love you no matter what in every second of every day.”
“I saw/heard something that reminded me of you or made me think of you or the time when you/we…finger painted together, went on a nature walk, we had a pillow fight, the first time you walked, etc.”
“Do you remember when…?” Share a fond, loving, joyful memory.
“Do you know I loved you even before I met you, when you were in my belly and even before that? I loved you so much and was so excited to meet you.”
“Do you know that when you were born…?” Share birth story or how family and friends reacted. Remember to not say anything to make your child feel responsible for your pain, suffering or fear or that makes them feel afraid of their or your near-death or otherwise traumatic birth experience. Keep it positive and loving.
“Don’t worry, it’s okay, everyone makes mistakes and has accidents sometimes.”
“I love your thoughts/ideas/questions.”
“You have the best heart.”
“You have a good brain in there. I can’t wait to see what you think/do next.”
“Great choice!” Instead of giving a yes/no option or a consequence/threat vs. expected behavior/reward disguised as two choices, always give two equally positive choices that you are happy with and then always follow up with, “Great choice!” For example:
Do you want to brush your teeth in my bathroom or the kitchen sink? Great choice!
Do you want pancakes or eggs? Great choice!
Do you want to get dressed in your room or my room? Great choice!
“I love the things that make you unique and different. Those are your superpowers. What makes you different, makes you important (beautiful, powerful, matter, etc.)”
Elaborate on this idea: Everyone is on Earth with the ability to make the world a better place. Your unique abilities, interests, experiences, thoughts and ideas that make you unique and different than anyone else, are the very things that make you important because those are the things you and only you can use to make the world better for the people and world around you.
Watch my read along book, Insecurity is a Seed, to illustrate how we are important because we are different and unique.
From the film/book, The Help: “You are smart, you are kind, you are important.”
Use Lindsey Gurk’s Daily Affirmation Song: “Ready?! Are we caring? Yeah! Are we kind? Yeah! Do we love all of our body and our mind? Yeah! Are we creative? Yeah! Are we courageous? Yeah! Is the love and light we show just so contagious? Yeah! Are we going to have a great day?! Yeah!!! I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you!”
“You matter.” Use Mathew Emerzian’s Book, Every Monday Matters (for Families Edition) for simply weekly ways to connect with kids, create meaningful moments with family and spend quality time together in ways that matter.
Take time to read together every day. No matter how stressful the day, find a few minutes to snuggle and read together. The recommendation is 15 minutes a day but do what you can. Can’t get your kids to read? Try the free library eBook Libby App to read free picture books, Highlights magazine and more on your phone together. Search specific titles or authors or your child’s interests: Construction vehicles, reptiles, unicorn, etc. You can also look up fun facts on your phone and read or watch educational videos about trucks, dinos, volcanic eruptions, solar eclipses, super heroes, princesses, etc. No time? Play one of 200+ read along videos on my YouTube channel, @LaurenMartinBooks, as you cook, clean, eat, commute, wait in line, etc. and listen and discuss together.
I hope you enjoy these 30 ideas to create moments of connection, love and affection with children to foster love and self-worth in young kids. When you take 1-minute a day to foster quality time with kids and create lasting fond memories with quick and easy affirmations built into your daily routine, you develop children’s longterm sense of safety, self-worth, confidence and self-esteem. Why wait? Create meaningful moments with your children, foster memorable loving family memories for you kids and prioritize daily intentional connection and positive affirmations with kids without any extra time or resources.