Just Walk Beside Them: The Quiet Power of Being Present for Your Children

As parents, it is natural to want to fix things for our children — solve their problems, ease their pain, or offer advice the moment they face a challenge. But sometimes, what our children need most is not a solution. Sometimes, they just need us.

Being present doesn’t always mean having the right answers. It can simply mean being nearby. Sitting with them while they do homework. Listening without interrupting. Being okay with silence. Walking beside them — literally or emotionally — as they figure things out on their own.

Children grow in the spaces between our words. They build resilience when they feel safe to fall, knowing someone is close by to help them up. They develop confidence not just from praise, but from presence — the quiet assurance that they are not alone, even when we don’t speak.

So, give yourself permission to slow down. Put the phone away for a few minutes. Make eye contact. Ask how their day was and really listen to the answer. You don’t need to fix everything. Sometimes, walking beside your child — just being there — is exactly what they need most.

How can you build moments of quiet connection into your family’s daily routine?

The Australian Parenting Website

Mandy Barr, Joanne Devota-Rando and Sarah Quin
School Councellors