Having a Bad Day?

Nurtured Heart Tip #2

Having an Extra Bad Day!?!
 
Next time you feel flustered about something your child is doing (or not doing), recognize that giving energy to what is not working is really not the best route.

Take a deep breath, and if you need to walk away for a moment to get grounded, go ahead and do so.

When you return to the scene, find something positive that your child is doing that can be highlighted. Sometimes the scene is so negatively charged, that the best positive thing you can find is actually something like, "I see that you're not throwing your toys against the wall. This shows that you are getting better at managing your emotions." 

​When you are able to give authentic, positive feedback, it really does help your child to feel positive about themselves, and it guides them towards self-regulation.