Playing to Build Patience and Joy: Reconnecting Through Games
The Moment It Hit Us
There was a night not too long ago when we sat on the couch, each of us in our own little world. My wife was scrolling on her phone, I was checking emails, and our son, our sweet Squish, was sitting quietly with his tablet, completely absorbed in his game.
The house was quiet… too quiet.
I remember glancing up and realizing that we hadn’t laughed together in days.
We’d talked, sure, about chores, school, and dinner plans.
But those deep belly laughs, the kind that come from real connection and play?
They’d disappeared somewhere between work stress, laundry piles, and the endless “to-do” lists that keep modern families spinning.
That moment broke me a little.
I missed him.
I missed us.
And then it hit me, the problem wasn’t just about “time.”
We were spending hours near each other, but not with each other.
We weren’t disconnected by space… we were disconnected by focus.
That realization was our lightbulb moment.
When We Realized It Was a Problem
The truth is, we thought we were doing okay.
We were showing up to practices, helping with homework, tucking him in at night.
But something was missing, the laughter, the inside jokes, the spark that made family time fun instead of routine.
Then one day, during a rare game night, we saw it.
Squish lit up.
He laughed so hard he snorted, and suddenly we were all giggling until we cried.
In that tiny, chaotic moment, surrounded by cards, dice, and crumbs, we saw who we used to be.
That’s when we knew: this was the medicine our family needed.
We didn’t need more “quality time.”
We needed more play.
How We Decided to Change
We made a simple promise: Play was going to become a part of our family rhythm again.
Not as an afterthought, not “if we have time,” but as something sacred, a way to rebuild patience, joy, and connection.
At first, it was messy.
We had to relearn how to be playful again, how to lose without frustration, how to slow down and enjoy the moment, how to laugh even when the game went sideways.
But as we played more, something started to shift.
Game nights became less about winning and more about being present.
They became little lessons in patience, teaching our son (and honestly, us too) how to wait his turn, handle disappointment, and cheer others on.
And as the weeks went by, those lessons started to spill into the rest of our lives, fewer meltdowns, more laughter, and a home that felt lighter.
We found our connection again, one round of Uno at a time.
How Playing to Build Patience and Joy Can Help You Reconnect Too
If your home has felt distant lately, if you’re craving more laughter and less tension, this might just be the spark your family needs too.
Playing games together does something powerful, it levels the playing field.
It takes away titles like “parent” and “child” for a moment and just lets everyone be.
When you sit around a board game or play something active outside, you’re creating shared stories, moments that stitch your hearts back together.
Here’s what we found really works:
Start Small: Pick one night a week and make it “family game night.” Keep it short, even 20 minutes can work wonders.
Choose Joy Over Competition: Go for games that make everyone laugh, not just win. Think silly, active, or cooperative games where you work together.
Rotate Roles: Let your child be the “game master.” Giving them control makes them feel seen and trusted, and that builds confidence.
Stay Present: Phones away, chores paused, TV off. This time is about connection, not distraction.
Reflect After: Talk about your favorite moment from the game. You’d be surprised how many meaningful conversations start from a funny move or clever play.
These small rituals of play are like emotional glue. Over time, they strengthen the bond, teach patience, and rebuild joy in the simplest way possible, through laughter and love.
And that’s the heart of Squish Games, reminding families that connection doesn’t have to be serious or structured. Sometimes it’s as easy as pressing “Start” and playing together again.
A Message to You
If you’ve been feeling the distance, please know, you’re not alone.
Every parent has moments where life takes over and connection slips quietly into the background.
That doesn’t make you a bad parent.
It makes you human.
We’re not perfect either.
We still get busy.
We still forget.
But we’ve learned that joy doesn’t have to be complicated, it just has to be intentional.
So, start small.
Dust off that old board game.
Play a quick round before dinner.
Let your child teach you a video game.
Laugh a little.
Lose a little.
Connect a lot.
Because joy is something we can choose, and playing together is one of the simplest, sweetest ways to bring it back.
The Browns
Become a community member—it’s free.
Members get access to step-by-step guides that break down how to encourage independent play in a way that fits your family’s routine.
Why We Keep This Blog Ad-Free
You’ll notice there are no pop-ups, autoplay videos, or distracting ads here.
That’s on purpose.
We believe your time and focus matter more than revenue shortcuts.
If you’d like to support our mission, here’s how you can help:
Use our affiliate links for researched products we recommend (it costs you nothing extra, but helps us keep going).
Visit our store for family-friendly products we’ve created.
Share this blog with a friend who might need it.
Enjoyed this post?
Leave comments and questions below that you’d like us to talk more about.
If you’d like to support the blog, you can click the support button below—it’s like buying us a cup of coffee while we keep creating content for you.
And if nothing else, know this:
