
The Power of Parent-Child Relationships
Loving connections between adults and children form a strong foundation for emotional well-being.
As a parent or caregiver, your caring connection with your child plays a powerful role in setting them up for a future of healthy relationships and emotional well-being that can last a lifetime.
Attunement—recognizing and responding to your child’s emotions and needs—is an important way to make your child feel accepted, understood, seen, heard, and safe! Here are some ways to validate your child’s emotional experiences, and strengthen your relationship, based on the latest psychological research.
Help shape your child’s emotional world.
- Help children use words to label their feelings. This helps increase their emotional literacy and shows them how to use words to express their emotions. For example, you might say, “I see that you’re crying. You seem sad. What’s making you sad?”
- Remind your child that it’s okay to have feelings like hurt and frustration (avoiding phrases like “don’t be sad” or “don’t be angry”).
- When you need to handle challenging moments, remember that behavior is the main way young children communicate their emotions. They’re still learning to use words to describe their feelings!
- Look for what’s happening in your child’s world that might be behind their behaviors and emotions. Are they hungry or tired?
PRIDE
Use “PRIDE” to strengthen your connection with your child and make them feel seen, heard, and supported. These are simple ways to show your child you’re paying attention and care about them:
- Praise: Offer positive feedback (“You’re doing such a good job sharing your favorite toy.”)
- Reflect: Repeat something similar to what kids say. (If your child says, “I like playing with these blocks,” you might reflect, “Those blocks are so cool to play with. They’re your favorite!”)
- Imitate: “Copy” children’s play. (If your child is drawing a house, you might say “I think I’ll draw a house, too.”)
- Describe: “Talk through” what your child is doing. (“You drew a colorful rainbow!”)
- Enthusiasm: Show you’re excited to play together! (“I love playing this new game with you. Good job!”)
Source: Erlanger Turner, PhD, an associate professor of psychology at Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, and an expert on child and multicultural psychology.

Safe & Together
When families have to leave home in order to stay safe, it helps to remember that home is where the love is.

Bubble Time
A quiet activity such as blowing bubbles can help both children and adults breathe deeply, slow down… and calm down.

Crayon Power
Coloring together can soothe both children and grown-ups.

See You Later Alligator
A special, loving good-bye routine can make separations easier.

Friendship Bracelets
When it’s hard to be apart from those we love, the littlest things can become big reminders that someone loves us and is thinking of us.

Cloud Watching
Spending time outside can feel like a “reset” on the day.

Pillow Hugs
Hugging a pillow covered with an item of a loved one’s clothing can help comfort children when they’re missing them.