Try these ideas for at-home activities with your young kids to nurture relationships.
For many, Valentine’s Day means cards, candy and celebrations of romantic love. While those traditions are fun, let’s talk about a different, but equally important, kind of love: family love.
The everyday bonds we build with our young children set the foundation for future, healthy relationships with us and others. Love isn’t something we just say to young children — we show it through consistency, connection and play. This is especially true in the early years, from birth to age 5, when children are developing rapidly.
During these years, children are learning how to trust, navigate emotions and interact with those around them. Take time to nurture these skills at home, in the simple moments woven into your daily life.
First 5 Orange County created some easy relationship-building activities called Kid Builders, a collection of free, simple activities expertly designed to support young children’s health and development. Kid Builders promotes growth in six essential areas: mind, body, words, relationships, safety and health. Each activity has been developed by early childhood experts, with input from parents, and reviewed by the Orange County chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
This Valentine’s Day season, the Relationship Builder activities are an excellent place to start. These activities create meaningful moments for caregivers and children to connect, strengthening their bond while helping little ones build confidence, understand big feelings and learn how to play well with others.
The activities are organized by age, including baby, 1-year-old, 2-year-old, 3-year-old and 4/5-year-old activities. For babies, the activities focus on bonding and responsiveness. Simple ideas like talking, singing, making faces and responding to a baby’s cues build trust and emotional security.
For 1-year-olds, the activities encourage imitation, simple turn-taking and shared play. These experiences help young children begin to understand social exchanges and build confidence.