I promise you this seemingly simple skill will work with any child age 2 through teenager and in my profession as a child and family therapist, we rarely make promises! If you’re looking to strengthen your bond, relationship, trust, and approachability—this is key. If you’re looking to teach emotions, empathy, and respect—this is a crucial developmental building block. Validation. Validation is the single best skill a parent can learn to do with their child.
We've all been there. Enduring conflict with a spouse, a friend, or family member where we tried to express ourselves and it didn't go as planned. Maybe we won an argument, but the win was at the expense of the other. Maybe we feel like expressing anger for the sake of release and venting. Or possibly we prefer to say nothing, laugh it off, avoid or ignore the person or situation, or end the relationship.
It’s October—the leaves are starting to change, the air is a bit crisper, the daylight hours are waning, and your child or teen is starting to exhibit signs of stress. This time of year is when I have noticed an influx of parents bringing their children and teenagers to counseling—they have settled into a new school year; summer is a distant memory; and school work, social stress, and family life are getting busier and busier!
