Five Simple Rhythms For Reaching the Heart of Your Child
Wouldn’t it be nice if our parenting strategies were one size fits all, and we could carbon-copy what works for one child and pass it down for others without alterations, in a hand-me-down sort of way? However, we know the truth that God has tailor-made each child with a unique personality; therefore, strategically connecting with our children beyond the surface-level routines and daily homework is critical for reaching their hearts.
As parents, it can feel exhausting to attempt to connect with a child on different levels. While there is no shortcut to authentic relationships, allow these simple rhythms to help you reach your child’s heart and keep the conversations going.
Live Life Together
As I prepare to launch my daughter to college this year, one thing I am beyond grateful for—is the intentional choice to live life together during her formative years. We know parenting is all about the long game, but be encouraged. Connection with our child is not always something “else” that has to be scheduled or pursued. Sometimes, it’s leveraging what we are already doing intentionally.
Connection is often as simple as including our children in our daily tasks, yet so often, we miss key opportunities in the name of productivity or ease. Simple does not mean easy, but the connection is always worth the pursuit. Try taking your child on grocery store runs, allowing them to help you in the kitchen, and including them in home projects to see where the conversation takes you. Side-by-side activities like driving in the car or going on a walk may open doors to deeper things but in a casual way. This intentionality in an everyday routine can help establish a solid foundation for time spent in heart-level conversations.
2. Embrace Humility
One of the most effective ways I’ve discovered to reach a child’s heart is to connect with them on their level. Even in our authority, we can embrace humility, acknowledging that, as parents, we don’t have all the answers. This allows our children to recognize that we were once their age and made mistakes, too. Maybe we didn’t always tell the truth in pursuit of self-preservation or failed a test because we didn’t study. Perfection sets an impossible standard, so we do not need to pretend perfection if we truly desire the ear of our children.
One way to embrace humility is to laugh at ourselves openly along this journey. Keep it light even in the hardships of life. Allow honest vulnerability to open the door to deeper heart conversations. The more we remind our child that we walked through difficult and awkward seasons of life as well, the more we create a safe and understanding space for connection.
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