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!