Hi,
Spring has its way of making us think. The temperature changes. The buds blossom. The heaviness of winter starts to lift.
And for educators and parents, spring brings a quiet reminder: This is a good time to reconnect.
Not by becoming a calmer, wiser, more organized person overnight.
Just by becoming a little more present.
A while back, I was trying to support a sixth-grade student who was struggling.
There were many moving pieces. We needed to understand what was going on, what she needed, and how to help. And like most adults in such a situation, I felt the pull to do more.
But I resisted the urge.
She didn’t need more done. She needed less, but better.
She needed something small yet strategic.
Five to ten minutes a day.
It’s called special time, a practice from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, in which the child leads, and the parent or educator follows
Honestly, it sounded almost too simple.
But that was the point.
The goal wasn’t to teach. It was just to be there. To notice. To follow. To step into the child’s world without taking over.
And because it was only a few minutes, I could do it.
And what that gave my student was something we often underestimate:
The feeling of being fully seen. Enjoyed. Celebrated.
Are you a parent?
Set aside 5–10 minutes with one child and let them lead.
That’s it.
You sit with them.
Join what they’re doing.
Listen to what they’re saying.
Notice what lights them up.
Are you an educator?
The same idea works in school, too. A few minutes of student-led connection can go a long way.
Kids spend so much of their day being directed, corrected, assessed, and rushed.
So when an adult slows down and really pays attention, they feel it.
This spring, make your goal simpler.
- Connection before correction.
- Presence before pressure.
- Relationship before results.
Spring reminds us that growth does not always come from force.
Sometimes it comes from light. From warmth. From steady attention.
Try this.
Pick one child or student. Spend 5–10 minutes letting them lead while you follow.
Notice what they do.
Notice what they love.
Notice who they are when no one is steering the moment.
It doesn’t have to be long.
It doesn’t have to be magical.
Your presence is the present!
And when you notice the blooms bursting forth, you’ll be there to enjoy them — present, ready, and connected.
Enjoy the moment of sunshine with your precious blossoms,
Rachel Gluck