We must not underestimate the importance of personal, up-close connection to the children we serve. Especially in this time of CoVid, we need to dictate the culture as one who expresses affection through loving touch, close contact, and consistent personal communication.

Below are three modes of physical connection we can all establish to build this culture in our environments:

1. All Hellos and Goodbyes involve physical and eye contact.
Transitions happen a lot in the course of normal life, but we should not let them become an insignificant norm. Waking, going to bed, parting for the day, transitioning to new activities, etc. should all be times when every child in our culture learns to expect a touch (hug, kiss, shoulder squeeze, even air high-fives) and eye-contact to accompany a verbal form of “I love you” or "I care for you." CoVid has broken down these social human connection points, but we must fight to keep them moments for expressing love.

2. Pursue playful touch. 
Kids must move beyond being babies and they must later move beyond being kiddies; they need not move beyond our cuddling embraces. By making touch playful in our environments, we create socially-easy places for our kids to receive our physical love no matter where they are in their growing journey. When appropriate, rough-housing or tickling, otherwise for interactions outside of family perhaps tag with pool noodles, catch, sports, or "try not to laugh" games are all variations of physical contact games that should be pursued during this time.  

3.Situate for nearness whenever kids are talking.
We must avoid listening to kids on the run or while multi-tasking. Many children learn not to share because adults don’t stop to listen. Whenever a child seems desirous of conversation ask yourself, “How can I get physically closer as a hearer?” It might mean pulling up a chair six feet away but putting your gaze right into their eyes or pulling them up a stool next to you as you wash dishes. It might mean stopping and laying beside them to look at the ceiling or It might mean pulling a ten-year-old into your lap. By drawing close physically (as close as we can), we declare our value for their voice.

Where can you grow in your physical contact to communicate with your body language,

"I care about you" to your kids, like Coach Popovich?

More wisdom from Coyle's The Culture Code found here.