What Kids Want: What Young Children Enjoy Doing, Where They Like to Go, and What They Need Most
Maintaining a harmonious family relationship is a true art. Every family faces periods of difficulty and chaos, and each member will go through their own personal and developmental crises. The most important thing is always to return to a joyful, pleasurable life path. You can teach your child this within the family. If you understand what truly brings your child joy, while also encouraging their development and guiding them through life, you possess a powerful tool for raising a happy child.This may include:
Play with pleasure
- Children spend most of their time playing. Play is a multi-faceted tool for them.
- Through play, children protect themselves from psychological trauma and process complex emotions.
- Playing helps children absorb information and reinforce new skills.
- Through games, children discover themselves, understand the world, and learn social skills.
- When adults join in, daily routines can be made more enjoyable. For example, bath time can become a sea battle, and brushing teeth can be like a janitor cleaning a yard, sweeping under the fence—teeth.
- Let your child play as much as possible, participate with them, and foster opportunities to play with peers at playgrounds or at friends’ houses. This is very important for their growth.
Speech therapists, pediatricians, psychologists, and psychotherapists often use stories in their work with children for good reason. Tales help children expand their awareness, understand relationships with others, unlock creativity, and work through psychological challenges. Stories become powerful therapeutic tools for young children. Through tales, children learn about the world, navigate life stages, discover values, and understand friendship.
Children under five years old usually love fairy tales about magical talking animals, tiny people, or toys that come to life.
If there has been a family issue, a "household" fairy tale can help the child process the experience and learn a positive response. The story features a main character—a boy or girl similar to your child—going through similar situations.
If your child has specific challenges or unique qualities that parents or specialists are working on, a transformative fairy tale can help. The protagonist finds themselves in a difficult situation, which symbolically resembles the child’s struggles, overcomes adversity, and is changed as a result. An example of such a story is "The Ugly Duckling."
Talk (Like with an Adult)
Through meaningful conversations and a genuine interest in what is happening in your child’s life, children feel valued and loved. Those who regularly discuss the world, emotions—both their own and others’—grow up feeling confident they can approach their parents with any question and receive a caring reply.
Many children enjoy a 15-20 minute chat before bedtime. Amid busy days, parents can’t always pause to hug or talk sincerely with their child. Bedtime conversations allow parents to show love through gentle words, soothing touch, and genuine interest in the child's inner world. Sharing joys and worries from the day, having opened their hearts and received answers, children fall asleep peacefully and soundly.
Your child will also appreciate if, when noticing problematic behavior, you ask questions like: “What would you like to change?” or “Why do you think we don’t love you/are unfair to you/etc.?”
Kiss
Children remember the tradition of a bedtime kiss for many years. It becomes one of the warmest memories from childhood.
At the same time, do not treat your child like a "stuffed toy". Respect their feelings when they don’t want hugs or kisses. Don’t force physical shows of affection.
Advice:
If you want to know your child even better, take our psychological Parenting Mentor Test. Our experts will provide you with a detailed description of your relationship with your child, considering their unique personality, and offer personalized recommendations to deepen your connection and trust.
Do Household Duties Together
Children truly appreciate the time you spend with them. This is one of the most important expressions of love. Kids also enjoy doing adult activities with their parents, such as cooking, cleaning, washing dishes and clothes, yard work, and even washing the car.
Teach your child these basic tasks by involving them in daily chores. Dinner might take longer to prepare, and accidents may happen, but your reaction will teach your child a great deal. Don’t get annoyed or angry, and don’t rush to fix everything. Encourage your child by saying, “It happens to everyone. Take a rag and wipe it.” This shows your child they are more important to you than spilled milk, and that you trust them to correct their mistakes.
Let Them Talk and Play with Other Children after School or Clubs
School and extracurricular activities are not just sources of knowledge; they are places where children learn to socialize and form friendships. It’s beneficial when parents don’t rush to pick up their child right after class, but instead give them some time to interact with friends.
Children differ in interests, personalities, temperament, and more. But all of them want to feel accepted by their parents. So, create a comfortable atmosphere at home using common interactive tools and always consider your child’s unique traits.