22/08/2024
The Power of in Parenting â¨
As parents, our words and actions shape our childrenâs emotional well-being in profound ways. In those everyday momentsâwhen your child shares a worry, expresses excitement, or seeks your opinionâyou hold the power to either validate or invalidate their feelings.
Validation is more than just hearing them out; itâs about and their emotions without . This simple act tells your child that their feelings matter, that they are understood, and that itâs okay to express themselves.
In contrast, dismissing or downplaying their emotions, even unintentionally, can leave them feeling unheard, confused, and less confident in expressing their true selves.
Over time, this can affect their inner health, leading to and .
Here is an example:
- : Your child comes home from school and says, "I didnât get picked for the soccer team."
- Response: "I can see youâre really disappointed about not making the team. Itâs okay to feel upset. Do you want to talk about what happened, or maybe we can think about what else you might enjoy?
- Response: "Itâs not a big deal. You probably didnât try hard enough. Just forget about it."
Remember, your response in these moments can either build up your childâs sense of self or diminish it.
By offering validation, you nurture their emotional health and build a foundation of and that will support them throughout life.