The Simple Action That Helps Children Re-Engage When They Shut Down During a Session
When a child shuts down, stops engaging, or gives you nothing back, it can feel like everything just stalls.
You might be doing all the “right” things — talking about what they love, meeting them at their level — and still getting nowhere.
That’s because without rapport, nothing really sticks.
And even when you do have rapport, children can drift. Their focus goes, their energy drops, and suddenly you’ve lost them.
So instead of pushing harder… I change direction.
I bring in a simple word game.
I say a word. They have to say another word using the last letter of mine.
No names, no places, no numbers.
That’s it.
And somehow, almost instantly, things shift.
They start thinking again. They get stuck. They laugh. They try. They re-engage.
What looks like a quick game is actually doing something powerful — it removes pressure, resets their focus, and rebuilds connection in a way that feels safe and fun.
Because when a child feels relaxed again, they come back.
And that’s the moment where progress can begin.
