Bonding With Your Kids Through Play
You ever sit with a child and realize they teach you things simply by being themselves? You can learn a lot from a child who colors outside of the lines.
Let Me Illustrate A Picture
A child sits at the table, legs swinging, crayons in hand.
A parent sits beside them, not saying much, just… being there.
Between them: an activity book.
Nothing flashy. Nothing “on brand.” Nothing loud.
Just a shared experience.
That’s the memory.
Activity books slow us down just enough to understand each other.
And in a world where everything and everyone is in a rush: school schedules here, work deadlines there, screens almost everywhere, these little books create pockets of calm and creativity that our families didn’t always have growing up.
Let’s talk about why they matter more than we think.
Activity Books Create Natural Bonding Moments
Most parents want to connect with their children… but when life stays busy and loud, time together can feel like a dream.
And for children, talking directly about their feelings can feel like an interrogation,
even for some of us grown folk (no shade).
But if you give a child a coloring page, a puzzle, a spot the difference, or a seek-and-find, suddenly you have a gateway.
Much like adults “butter someone up” before getting to the real conversation, same concept.
When you bring communication down to a child’s level, you give them an opportunity to come to you.
Suddenly their guard relaxes.
Their hands get busy creating,
and the invisible gate around their heart unlocks.
They start talking not because you forced a conversation,
but because you created a safe space for one.
These creative outlets give parents a chance to:
sit close without pressure
learn how their child’s mind works
celebrate tiny wins together
talk through small things (that are really big things)
provide comfort simply through presence
It’s simple, but it’s not small.
Bonding doesn’t need to be a grand gesture.
Sometimes it’s just crayons, a fun activity book, and a patient afternoon.
Still to this day, I remember my great-grandmother and I playing memory games at my little kids table. It was so fun to match and be in her presence.
Some days I wish life could stay that bliss. That's unreal though… right?
But I am grateful I can think of that moment and it still brings a smile to my face.
Breaking Generational Curses
Okay, let’s get extra personal.
Many of us didn’t grow up with parents who sat down and asked:
“How do you feel today?”
or
“What’s on your heart and mind?”
We were lucky to make it through the day without a whooping.
Emotional closeness wasn’t modeled for us; not because our parents didn’t love us, but because they didn’t have the tools to show it.
Yes, the occasional favorite homemade dish or surprise toy was fantastic, but not always what was needed.
Activity books give families tools.
Soft ones.
Easily modeled ones.
Accessible ones.
They help create:
routine moments of connection
open communication
emotional safety
time set aside for presence
Every time a parent sits down with their child for even 10 minutes, they’re rewriting patterns their family has lived with for generations.
Not yelling.
Not forcing.
Not demanding.
Just showing up intentionally.
Healing doesn’t have to feel like work.
Sometimes it’s a parent coloring stars next to their child, and that’s enough.
How Activity Books Support Emotional Development
Activity books aren’t just for fun, they’re actually quite therapeutic.
They help children:
Regulate Emotions - coloring calms the nervous system
Stay Focused - pattern based activities build attention
Express Themselves Safely - drawing prompts reveal feelings they can’t say yet
Gain Confidence - “Look, I finished it!” is a big deal at age four (or 24)
And parents gain insights they might not catch during a busy day.
Examples include:
a child who colors the whole page blue and says, “I felt lonely at school today.”
a child who draws themselves smaller than everyone else
a child whose family portrait tells you more than any conversation could
Activity books open doors to understanding what words sometimes can’t articulate.
Introducing the Always there, Rocking Chair Activity Companion
I created this companion with the intention of carving out moments to be present with yourself or your child in a society that is always on go.
It’s filled with:
southern themed coloring pages
mindfulness activities
emotional check-in pages
mantra card cutouts to take anywhere
Just enough structure to guide, but open enough for imagination to lead the way.
It’s also perfect for adults healing their inner child, or for bonding with elders.
The free sample is available now, download for instant access.
The full coloring & activity companion guide releases May 2026.
It’s more than an activity book.
It’s a bridge between generations.
Key Takeaways (for the 1-minute readers)
Activity books give parents and children natural, meaningful bonding moments.
Shared activities help break generational cycles around emotional silence.
Gentle structure helps kids express feelings in safe, playful ways.
These small rituals strengthen trust and connection, starting in the home.
Thanks for sitting with me awhile.
Until next time my friend,
Tybre’ana