Using Summer Break to Build Connection
Summer is upon us! We highly value our Next Generation sector, made up of our future community leaders and helpers and those who care for them— like our teachers, parents (bio, foster, AND adoptive), healthcare providers, and more. We know that for this sector especially, summer can be a huge opportunity to build attachment and connection and also that it can be highly difficult and triggering for those of us working with kids from hard places and entering a season of less structure and big feelings.
Elizabeth Brown is Gap Relief’s Resource and Resiliency Coach, specializing in attachment and parent coaching as a TBRI practitioner, and is also a Neurofeedback provider. She is an incredible resource for parents, teachers, and others as they work to connect with kids and launch the next generation.
In our video this week, Elizabeth sat down to share her best tips for utilizing the summer break to intentionally build connection with our kiddos.
Her first big tip is to simply Delight in Our Children. She encourages us to lean into loving them where they are at and for who they are, no matter their age and regardless of their behavior or performance. This is not to say that we should not address big feelings and behaviors, but she is simply encouraging parents to delight in their kids alongside any necessary behavior correction.
Secondly, Elizabeth says to Play with Our Kids, whatever that looks like for *our* family. We know that play disarms fear and naturally builds connection, and it can look so many different ways! Play can mean getting on the floor with them and playing pretend, it can be cooking with them, and it can even be reading to them or watching a movie with them. If we’re struggling with motivation and desire to lean in with a difficult kiddo, it can be helpful to start by inviting them into something we already enjoy. Whatever it is, do it together and have fun!
Next, Elizabeth reminds us to Hold Structure and Nurture Together. Kids NEED structure. This doesn’t mean they need a tight schedule with constant entertainment and quality time, but it does mean boundaries and expectations. Some kids need higher structure than others, and she encourages parents to prioritize what works for their family and is best for their kids. No matter the level of boundaries, expectations, and correction, it’s important to have the same level of nurture alongside it.
Lastly, Elizabeth wants parents to Be Creative together with their children! She’s quick to remind us that this does not mean we need to spend a bunch of money or prioritize being the perfect parent or providing the perfect experiences. She confesses that she is not a Pinterest mom and knows most of us aren’t either, but impresses upon us that simple experiences of creativity like baking cookies or coloring a picture are HUGE for kiddos seeking connection with their caregivers.
Summer is a time for relaxation, looser schedules, and fun! But we at Gap Relief know that it can also come with its fair share of hardships, and we’ve got your back for both!
