307. How To Be Awesome At Creating A Special Connection With Each Child

Whether you have one kid or 5 kids or you don’t have kids but plan to one day… this podcast episode is filled with ideas for you to really connect with each child - starting at any age.    Life is busy and the months go by quickly.  I’ve learned just how important it is to slow down and be mindful of the relationship and connection that you have with each child and how it changes as they get older.   My goal in this episode is to give you lots of ideas of ways to really connect and stay connected with your child.  Ideas that will really get you thinking about how you can insert the best ideas for you, into your daily lives.    I believe so much that an extra ordinary life comes largely from taking ordinary moments and making them extra ordinary and this episode is filled with so many ways to do just that with your babies.    **Lots of ideas…  1:1 time consistently  Leave out something to do together (book or football etc) Do what they are interested in  Ask questions that are open ended and curious  Show your love in the way that resonates most with them  Celebrate tiny wins- things you wouldn’t normally celebrate  Learn a new skill together  Share a hobby  Create traditions with each child (ex: Sunday am pancakes)  Work together on a charity project  Frame pictures of them that represent special accomplishments or moments  Projects that live on like a time capsule (digital or actual)  Dream day together - make a list, look forward to it, do all of the things on the list  Plan dream playdate together for their friends  Plan their birthday parties together  Start a small business, podcast or blog together  Go on walks after dinner - low pressure environment  Make a seasonal bucket list (summer bucket list to go zip lining etc)  LAUGH!  Plan vacations / adventures      **With each kid have a… TRADITION once a week or once a year   SONG that is theirs/yours THING that is yours (star, magic, champion etc) OUTING to look forward to   **Things to avoid…  Always solving everything for them  Dividing your time with technology  Be curious and not judgmental  Allow them space to fully be who they are      **How we can use what we know about habits to make this all happen!  Anchor to exiting (after brushing your teeth..) Start tiny - 2 minutes of something  Focus on behavior, not outcomes  Be flexible - helps you be consistent  Change your physical space  Just start- build on small wins - momentum  Focus on doing, not perfection      CHEERS to having the most awesome connections with your awesome kids!