A beautiful moment happened in my parent-child session this week. A mom arrived stressed and overwhelmed because they were late, and traffic was bad. We were talking about regulation strategies when the child moved and grooved into a silly dance party. Soon, we all were dancing, and the energy in the room lifted instantly.
It reminded me that regulation doesn’t always have to be serious or planned. Sometimes, our most powerful connecting moments with our children come wrapped in joy.
As parents, we can get caught up in the weight of responsibility. But play isn’t just for our kids – it’s a powerful nervous system resource for us too.
Let’s experiment with bringing more playful moments into parenting:
- Try a silly voice during a usually stressful transition
- Have a 30-second dance break during cleanup time
- Watch a funny video with your teen
- Notice how shared laughter shifts the energy between you and your child
I’d love to hear how a moment of play transforms a challenging part of your day.
