Resource Details the Four Elements Adults Should Utilize When Connecting with Children

Connection is the key to building trust and safety, and there are four elements that adults should focus on when attempting to connect with a child.

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In its most recent newsletter, the Infant Early Childhood Mental Health (IECMH) Consultation shared a resource titled the Four Elements of Connection from Philadelphia-based education empowerment program Conscious Discipline. 

The resource describes the four connection elements that can help caregivers or early childhood educators to bond with children they serve - eye contact, presence, touch, and playfulness.

The Four Elements

According to Conscious Discipline, adults should get down on the child’s level to achieve eye contact for a brief moment. The eyes contain nerve projections that lead directly to key brain structures for empathy and matching emotions.

Being present is the moment means that one’s mind and body are in the same place and the mind is free from chatter. Presence is about acceptance as an adult and child relax and enjoy sharing the same moment.

Touch creates a hormone that is essential to neural functioning and learning. To allow for smart, happy children, Conscious Discipline writes, adults need to provide more appropriate, caring touch.

And playfulness helps to build bonds and create biochemistry in the brain for dopamine, which helps children to pay attention and stay focused. Playful situations help to strengthen the dopamine system, increase attention span, and boost social development.

For more information, read the Conscious Discipline resource on the four elements of connection.