5 Essential Elements That Foster Exploration

Children need you to encourage their exploration or play. They still need you when they are doing this, so this is not the time to do your own thing (like catching up on laundry or mowing the lawn). Bummer, right!?

There are times that children will explore and you won’t be physically present, especially for older children. Think of school, sports practice, playdate.

Sometimes your child may need you to stay in the background rather than leave or drop them off somewhere (like a birthday party or soccer practice) in order for them to feel safe enough to explore, especially if it is a new situation.

For parents of teens and tweens: Internet access or exploration requires the same elements of supervision and watching over them (and sometimes may need more stringent limits or less freedom than when they are doing other activities).

Go have fun with your kids!
Pay attention to them.
Delight in their play and exploration.

Children need parents to be available and responsive both when they are exploring their world and when they are needing help managing their emotions.

If you have not snagged my partner guide, 5 Essential Elements To Help Children Regulate Emotions, get it here.

This companion guide will provide steps to help your child regulate their feelings.

If you need help coming up with feeling words to use to validate your child’s feeling, get my free Feelings Circle here.