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Sit A While…

Published On: April 18, 2024By Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Yes… there are some amazing upsides of “doing nothing” with your children and teens!

Photo by Barbara Olsen

The best way to truly connect with the internal world of your child/teen is to “just” sit there with them…

One of the most frequent questions I get asked by parents is how to truly connect with their children and teens. Often we might think that we have to DO something with them – some activity, or excursion or exciting adventure.

Research shows that when we sit with our children and teens – make eye contact, give them a hug, hold their hand… just be with them – we actually connect with the right side (hemisphere) of their brains – which is where the internal mind sits.

Sitting with your child/teen enables him/her to feel secure enough to examine their internal world – and also allows them the permission/space to acknowledge those vulnerable parts of themselves that need attending to.

So, next time you think your child/teen needs some true connection with you – make some time to sit a while. You can do something relaxing like a drawing, colouring, puzzle, lego… if that helps you both – but remember your presence (focused attention, eye gaze, touch) is THE magic ingredient.

If you want to find out more – watch this excerpt on YouTube of a talk by Dan Siegel (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGUEDtGSwW4).

Main – Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA

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About the Author: Dr. Katharine Ayivor-Nygard

Katharine is a qualified Clinical Psychologist, registered with the Health Care and Professions Council (HCPC) and a chartered member of the British Psychological Society. She trained at the University of Nottingham and practiced initially within the NHS, before moving into independent practice. She has completed further training in Trauma treatments - Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR), Introduction to Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH) and assessment of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule - Second Edition (ADOS 2). Katharine has a specialist interest in Attachment and Developmental Trauma and regularly attends conferences, talks and training in how to apply this model to working with children, adolescents and adults who have experienced disrupted attachments. Contact Details Website Email: katharine@wearefullcircle.co

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