To a child, playfulness is the birthplace of joy, laughter, safety, and connection. It’s one of the quickest ways to shift a tense moment, build emotional attunement, and strengthen your relationship.

Children at this stage are still developing their emotions and language, and they often can’t yet articulate how they feel most loved. Instead, they show us through their behavior, reactions, and preferences.

Attunement is our ability to recognize and respond to our children’s needs. There are many studies that show that this response is...