If you’re trying to connect with a young child, you’d be amazed what a difference it makes if you kneel down so you can speak to them at their level. Children are in some ways better than adults at reading body language. When you match height you communicate to them that they are not in your way, that you have time for them, and that you’re interested in having a little chat if they are.
If you sit on the floor and ask them about their toys, their books, their favorite things, they’ll often invite you to play.
This isn’t easy. Often their intuition–that the grownups are too busy, or aren’t that interested–is correct. Parents, after a long day at work, get down on the floor and play. The connection takes less time than you’d expect, and may mean more than most of the things you did all day.