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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.
The myth that comforting your child will "spoil" them is not only emotionally harmful but also creates an altered brain state that leads to higher levels of stress and mental illness in adulthood, giving them compassion and comfort will only help them develop a healthier brain function.
In this video, learn about 4 different parenting mindsets - power and control, behavioral, permissive, and attachment - to help you make choices based on your parenting goals when faced with tricky situations.
The most helpful way for a child to understand boundaries is to model it for them, and as parents, we should also honor some of our children's boundaries as well to protect connection and safety, not power.