We all live to be loved and to belong no matter what, so remind your children that they are valued and loved because they are a part of YOUR family. Start sentences with “In our family… .”
In our family we are safe and helpful.
In our family eat together at the table.
In our family we have dance parties after dinner.
In our family we can tell each other anything.
Your family should be like a special club where the members will always make time for each other, accept each other, and have each other’s backs. It should be a safe place. That sense of safety and security is what children need to feel confident enough to explore the world. They need to know they can come back to a home that’s safe and predictable when the big, new world doesn’t always seem to be.