Play is the best way to build a strong emotional bond with children. Children reconnect with parents and function better when parents spend quality time with them due to the sense of attention they receive from their parents during play. It allows parents an opportunity to sneak a look into children’s play themes and create emotional awareness among them.
Pretend play is an excellent way to stir up strong emotions in kids. Imaginary situations during pretend play evoke powerful emotions. Identifying and labeling emotions displayed by various characters during imaginary play scenes and discussing them with children about how they would feel in the character’s shoes can be an enjoyable exercise for imbibing emotional awareness in children. Role plays are also an amazing way to express the right emotions.
Illustrating emoticons while snacking as in case of using a sauce bottle on sandwiches, or using play dough and painting can form fun ways to instill right emotional labeling in children which will help them express their emotions well. Playtime with children can also help parents assess what children are interested in by analyzing recurring scenarios during play. The plots or themes may relate to certain circumstances the children were exposed to or are fond of. Nevertheless, it might be only play.
Books are another great way to form a strong bonding with children. Reading books is a fun way children get connected to the imaginary characters depicted in the story. Children relate themselves to these characters and empathize with them; forming an emotional connect.
Painting and drawing is another great tool for children to express their emotions. Children often draw incidences which have had a substantial impact on their mind. They are great observers with the fearless power of expression.
Instilling positive emotional awareness in children is an essential means to connect with children and reinforce constructive emotions. This emotional awareness achieved at a young age enhances their emotional intelligence and prepares them to deal with adverse situations in life without falling prey to anxiety and depressive disorders. A sense of emotional awareness is an authentic relationship building exercise and great leaders in the making with team bonding spirit, enhanced problem-solving ability, and creative ability.
