Children often ask things that make parents think. One such sentence is: „Dad, what if I can't make a connection?“ This question reflects a deep-rooted concern that many young people have. It addresses the need for belonging and social contact. Parents are faced with the challenge of responding with understanding and at the same time providing impulses on how children and young people can deal with this uncertainty.
What does „finding a connection“ actually mean?
In a figurative sense, the term „making connections“ refers to making new social contacts or finding your way into a new group. It is about the feeling of belonging and making friends[1]. For many children and young people, making a new start is particularly fraught with uncertainty. So they often ask: „Dad, what if I can't make a connection?“ This shows how important social integration is for well-being.
For example, Anna initially feels lonely after changing schools and wonders whether she will make new friends. Tim is also unsure because he is new to the sports club and the other children already have their regular groups. Laura is afraid of not being accepted in the new class.
How can parents respond to the question „Dad, what if I can't make a connection?“ in a supportive way?
It is important to listen openly and take the child's feelings seriously. Parents can share their own experiences to provide encouragement. Clients often report that direct conversations about insecurities have a relieving effect.
Parents can help their children to actively socialise. This can be done through joint activities where the child can get to know new people, such as sports, music groups or creative workshops. This gives them the opportunity to socialise step by step.
Three examples show how parents can provide support:
- Maria accompanies her son to his first training session at the football club and stays briefly to introduce him to the group.
- Johannes helps his daughter to hand out small invitations to play with her classmates.
- Sandra organises an outing with other parents and children from the neighbourhood so that everyone can get to know each other in a relaxed atmosphere.
Dad, what if I can't make a connection? - Tips for promoting social contacts
This question calls for concrete impulses. Parents can give the following tips to make it easier for children to connect:
- Encourage your child to discover their own interests and hobbies and to meet like-minded people there.
- Practise small conversation starters with your child to make it easier to make contact with new people.
- Talk about the fact that it is normal for friendships to grow slowly.
Many parents report that it is precisely this support that gives them confidence and strengthens their children's self-confidence.
BEST PRACTICE for parents and teachers: „My son initially withdrew when he changed schools and often asked: ‚Dad, what if I can't make friends?‘ Together, we looked for a dance course that he enjoyed. He not only made new friends there, but also boosted his self-confidence. I recommend this experience to all parents.“
Why is the training at kikidz a valuable support?
The platform kikidz.org offers targeted training courses to help children and parents tackle these issues. Families are given practical tools to better understand and actively support the process of making connections. Especially when it comes to the frequent concern „Dad, what if I can't connect?“, parents receive concrete help and child-orientated explanations.
Three practical examples from the training courses at kikidz illustrate this:
- Children learn through play how to start conversations and resolve conflicts.
- Parents are given strategies to strengthen their children's social networks.
- The exchange with other families creates a supportive environment and reduces anxiety.
My analysis
The question „Dad, what if I can't make a connection?“ shows the important need for social inclusion among children and young people. Parents are faced with the task of taking fears seriously and at the same time providing practical support. Programmes such as the kikidz.org training course effectively support this process. This helps children gain self-confidence and find their place in new social environments more easily.
Further links from the text above:
https://kikidz.org
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