Are you looking for creative ways to deepen the bond of trust with your kids? You’ve come to the right place! Trust forms the foundation of any strong relationship, and when it comes to the parent-child bond, it’s absolutely essential. The good news is building trust is not a hard job, but rather fun and rewarding with creative trust activities!
Trust-building games for children are fun activities designed to enhance the bond of trust between kids and their parents. These games promote communication and teamwork. They also provoke a sense of security and reliability in the parent-child relationship. Trust Walk, Trust Fall, Willow in the Wind, Draw the Twin, and Human Knot are some examples of trust-building games that you can try with your children.
In this blog, we’ll explore a variety of trust games for preschoolers and young children to foster trust and communication between them and their parents. Moreover, we’ll discuss different aspects of trust, such as gaining it. So, let’s start with how to build trust for kids.
How Do You Build Trust for Kids?
Make sure you talk about the value of trust with your kids. Talk about its benefits and the importance of maintaining it. Keep talking openly with your kids and let them ask questions and get honest answers. Moreover, you need to be always truthful with them to build trust. As you and your kids keep being honest with each other, trust will keep growing. What’s more important for successful parenting is to respect your children’s boundaries and privacy. Avoid invading their personal space or going through their belongings without permission.
One study about building trust with children and young people at risk of child sexual exploitation has come up with the expression “See Me, Hear Me”. According to this study, to help children who may be at risk of sexual exploitation, professionals and parents need to build trusting relationships with them. This helps the children feel comfortable talking about any dangerous situations they might be in.
Sometimes children avoid sharing their risky experiences with adults, as they worry they won’t listen to them or respect their choices. Furthermore, fear of judgment is one key factor that causes children and teenage communication problems. That is why such an expression has been suggested. It insists on open communication with young people and listening to them.
What Are Trust-Building Games for Children?
You can’t get a teenager to talk about their feelings unless you’ve established a strong sense of trust with them during their younger years. There are various types of trust building exercises that are designed to foster a strong sense of trust and connection between children and their parents. Using these games, children learn to rely on and confide in their caregivers. At the same time, parents have the opportunity to show their trustworthiness and support. On the list below, you can check these types of activities.
Trust Falls
Stand facing your child with your arms crossed over your chest. Tell your child to stand with their back to you. Then tell them to fall backward, trusting that you will catch them. Every kid is afraid of falling down. However, if they know you’ll protect and catch them, they’ll feel free to fall. This game helps build trust and confidence in each other.
Trust Walk
Blindfold your kid and guide them on a walk through a safe environment, relying on verbal cues. Then, your child will go the way you tell them, step by step. This way, your kid trusts you as they rely on you for guidance.
Willow in the Wind
To play this game, you need more than 4 members. The team stands in a circle, shoulder to shoulder, taking each other’s hand. Choose your child to be the “willow” to stand in the center of the circle, while the others are “winds”. Your child closes their eyes and falls backward in any direction they want. Then the winds gently sway them side to side by placing their hands on the willow’s shoulders or back. The goal is for the willow to trust the winds to support and guide them safely, while the winds communicate and work together to ensure the willow’s comfort.
Draw the Twin
This is a fun and creative trust activity where you can sit facing your kid with a piece of paper and a pen or pencil. For example, you start by drawing a thing on the paper without letting your child see it. Then it’s their turn to draw something. You have to give them clues and instructions to draw something similar to your drawing. The game encourages creativity, communication, and cooperation between you and your child as you work together to bring your drawings to life.
Human Knot
This entertaining game requires several players. So, you can play it with the entire family or with your child’s friends group. This is one of the popular trust building activities for students as well. Make all players stand in a circle, close their eyes, and reach across to grab the hands of two different people. Once they open their eyes, the group should work together to untangle themselves without letting go of each other’s hands.
What If My Child Breaches My Trust?
Realizing that your child has breached your trust can be challenging to accept. However, you need to address the situation calmly and constructively. Remember that reacting with anger or frustration may make the situation worse and prevent any effective communication. Take a moment to compose yourself before addressing the issue with your child.
Next, you should sit down with your child and have an open and honest conversation about what happened. Encourage them to express their thoughts and feelings while also explaining how their actions have affected you. Let your child know how their breach of trust has made you feel. Use “I” statements to express your emotions without placing blame. For example, say, “I feel disappointed and hurt when you break my trust.”
Finally, work together with your child to rebuild trust over time. Encourage them to have responsible behavior and follow through on their commitments. Also, offer praise and positive reinforcement when they show trustworthiness.
Final Word
Building trust with your kids is an ongoing journey filled with ups and downs, but it’s a journey worth taking. Through fun trust games for youth and open communication, you can strengthen the bond with your children and create a foundation of trust that will last a lifetime. This way, you also teach your kids to build a circle of trust in their life. Remember to be patient, understanding, and consistent in your efforts to nurture trust in your relationship.
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