Dr. Clare Crowe

I'd actually like to play a game with you.

But two things, let them choose what it is and let it be regular.

Because the temptation is they'll choose something really big if it's infrequent.

but make it small.

So like make it a game of cards or a board game or a video game, but let them decide it and you join in with them.

I had a dad and himself and his son were just really estranged from one another.

And when he spoke with them individually, they both really wanted a good relationship.

And actually, I will say that I'm 20 years working in paediatrics and CAMHS and I've never come across a teenager

who didn't want a closer relationship with their parent.

To the parent.

But actually, when you kind of go into it, they really want that connection.

It's just not the case that people are comfortable with distance, but they don't know how to bridge it.

So that's why as a parent we're coming in.

So this dad and his son, I recommended, we're going to look at what did they do.

But they had two games of FIFA soccer a week.

That's where they started.

Now, these guys had no conversation otherwise.

And weeks later, I remember we had a review session and, you know, it started off chatting lightly, but they were actually talking about meaningful things over time.

While playing the FIFA soccer game.

Yeah, but also it's, you know, if you bring joy and fun moments into your relationship, then you can trust that we can take on bigger things as well.