Recently, I was working with a group of fifth grade boys and we were talking about something fun we had done over the weekend. I heard a couple of responses like “sleep” or “play video games.” Then, one of my students said “I played a board game with my family.”
“Wow, you’re so lucky!” one of the boys replied. I was surprised, honestly. In this day and age, it feels like kids are so absorbed in the digital world, and disconnected from spending time with their families. A light bulb went off in my head. This kid, displaying excitable envy over his friend’s game night with his family, was craving something other than the video games he could play at his house-he was craving connection with his family.
Kids are hungry for connection. As parents, we are so busy in our own lives that we find ourselves pacifying our kids with devices and spending less time with them. We lose out on opportunities to connect with our kids when they need us the most.
On the other hand, there does have to be a balance where we let kids have time to themselves to relax and unwind, and play on their own. But kids need the scales balanced with time spent with their families engaging in activities that are meaningful. Activities like board games, playing outdoors, having important conversations, drawing or painting, etc. They need their parents to be fully engaged and present.
Connection with others is essential for the mental well-being of our children. Right now, kids are experiencing some of the hardest mental health challenges due to the increased exposure to harmful material on social media as well as the lack of authentic connection with others. Many children and teens have become isolated and spend more time in the digital world instead of connecting with their peers. Add to that, they are under an immense amount of pressure at school to perform on tests. Kids just need to be able to be kids.
It’s so important for us to find ways to connect and be present with our kids. It is also beneficial for our mental well-being to step away from the digital world and connect face to face with our kids and loved ones, too.
This “ah-ha” moment taught me that kids crave connection with their parents and families, and that deep down, they want to do meaningful things like play board games and play outside rather than spend all their time on video games.
Here are some ideas for connection with your kids:
Board game nights
Go to the park
Scavenger hunts
Go out for dinner or ice cream (screen free)
Do art together
Conversation cards
Try something new together
What are some other ideas you have for connecting with your kids? Comment below.
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