The Importance of Connection
Connectedness refers to individuals or groups being socially close, interrelated, or sharing resources with other individuals and groups. Strong, positive relationships with others can be protective and prevent against suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Having connections with others can lead to increased frequency of social contact, lowered levels of social isolation or loneliness, and an increased number of positive relationships.
Children can build connections with family members, extended family, friends, at school, church, clubs, sports teams, cultural groups, neighborhoods and other situations where they are interacting with others. These connections can help kids to feel supported and safe when hard times come and they can help them to build social skills and even problem-solving skills.
In today’s world, much of our day is spent watching shows on a device, playing video games, looking at social media, etc. While engaging in these activities, very little socializing with others is happening and connections are not always being made. It’s important for our own well-being, as well as the well-being of our children, to take time each day for connecting with others and to teach our children to do this.
In fact, studies show that social connection leads to increased happiness, better health, and even a longer life. In the busyness of life, it may be difficult to find time for social connections. But it doesn’t have to take long. There are many ways to connect to others quickly on those busy days.
Connect with others at places that we already go. If your child will be at basketball practice anyway, encourage her to chat with others on the team. Use shared experiences as topics of conversation. If your child is waiting in the lunch line at school, he might as well talk to others waiting with him about school, lunch, and other shared experiences. Giving compliments is an easy way to connect with others and strike up conversations. Encourage kids to give three compliments each day. Even though less screentime is a good thing, there are ways to connect with others online. Encourage kids to email grandparents or send texts to other family members.
Helping Your Child with Skills for Connection
The ability to talk and connect with others is not something that comes easily to many people. Children and teens can be taught to increase their social skills and can be taught ways to connect with others.
1. ASAP - Preventing Suicide through Connectedness. (n.d.). CDC. Retrieved August 8, 2023, from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/asap_suicide_issue3-a.pdf https://childmind.org/article/how-to-help-kids-who-are-lonely/