In his book, When You Worry About Your Child, Dr. Edward Hallowell, gives 25 general practical suggestions on the management of emotions and learning in children and families which apply to all children at all ages of different temperaments, learning styles and emotional states. “Increase the amount of connectedness in your child’s life” is the first tip. For him, connectedness means being a part of something, such as one’s family, school, club, group of friends, state, country, nature and the environment. “Such connectedness sustains us,” he adds.

 

Dr. Hallowell’s concrete steps to develop and increase connectedness in your family’s life:  

• Fascinate your children by telling them stories and anecdotes from your own past. This will develop roots and create connectedness to the past.

• Preserve and develop family traditions and rituals and make sure your children know members of their extended family even if they live far. 

• Get to know your neighbors and teach your children how to build relations with the people around them.

• Connectedness includes connections not only to people develop connectedness to ideas, such as morality, faith, meaning of life and to institutions, organizations and nature.