Play is the secret language of children. It is how children communicate their inner world.
“Toys are children’s words and play is their language.” – Garry Landreth (2012)
“Play is a fundamental biological drive, as essential to our well-being as sleep or nutrition.” – Dr. Stuart Brown (2009)
Children play naturally without us needing to teach them how. Through play, they make sense of their experiences, their emotions, and the world around them. Children everywhere play, regardless of the country or culture they belong to. When toys
are not available, they create their own. They use whatever they can find, drawing on their imagination to fulfil their natural and universal need to play.
Children need plenty of opportunities for independent play. However, when parents or carers are invited into their play, something truly magical can happen. Spending just 5 to 10 minutes each day playing with your child—with your full attention and genuine presence—can strengthen your relationship and deepen your connection. These special moments not only benefit your child, but also give us, as adults, the opportunity to step into our child’s world, understand them better, and create joyful memories that can last a lifetime.
When we play with our children in a warm, responsive, and accepting way, they feel seen, heard, and loved. These experiences help children develop trust, confidence, emotional security, and a strong sense of belonging.
Simple Connection Activities
Try spending 5 to 10 minutes each day playing together. Some simple ideas include:
- Hand-clapping games
- Hide-and-seek
- Peekaboo (for babies and toddlers)
Why Hide-and-Seek and Peekaboo Are So Powerful Hide-and-seek and peekaboo are wonderful games for building secure attachment. On the surface they seem very simple, but they give children repeated experiences of separating and reconnecting with someone they love. While hiding, your child experiences excitement, anticipation, and just a little uncertainty as they wait to be found. They experience these feelings in a safe, playful, and manageable way.
Then comes the joyful reunion: “I found you!” Parent and child share smiles, laughter, delight, and connection. By playing these games over and over, children begin to learn an important life lesson: separations are temporary, and the people who love them come back. Each reunion strengthens their sense of safety, trust, and security.
These games are enjoyable for all children. For children who experience anxiety or find separations difficult, these repeated moments of joyful reconnection can be especially powerful in helping them build confidence, resilience, and a deeper sense of emotional security.
“The most valuable toy your child has is you”
“At reconnect2thrive, we believe that small moments of connection can make a big difference in a child’s emotional wellbeing.”
