When our kids fall or appear to get hurt, our job is not to hover or to dismiss...it's to tune in to their reaction and then respond in kind...
If they are light and fluffy about it....great! You be too...
If they are scared? Comfort and reassure them....
If they are hurt physically or embarrassed (emotional pain), Comfort them and help them process those strong feelings.
Our kids need us to be attuned and wary of overreacting or under reacting.
In this Q&A video, Alicia Malnati shares three tips to help your children love learning for the sake of learning, including setting challenging but attainable goals, emphasizing effort over innate ability, and praising specific tactics rather than traits.
The video suggests using playfulness as a powerful tool when dealing with toddler refusal and that it is more effective than threats, punishment, or intimidation as it guides, influences, and builds trust while keeping you calm to prevent triggering more resistance.
The idea of toughening up your children to deal with the world only makes you their first bully, stripping them of their sense of belonging with you; treat your children with respect and connection so that they instinctively protect themselves from unkind and cruel treatment.