Notice the Good and Encourage
As you know, the weeks leading up to school and even after school starts can be a rough transition for both you and your kiddo. One way to increase connection with your child is to not only pay attention to the positive things that your child does, but also verbalize them. Yes, the small things too! When people do better they feel better, which is exactly how children feel when their parents notice and affirm their positive actions.
Examples of Encouragement:
“I appreciate how you put your backpack up when you walked into the house.”
“You are such a kind friend for holding the door for your classmate.”
“Thank you for helping me set the table.”
“You must be so proud of yourself for figuring out your math homework.”
Make Agreements
A common struggle I hear when working with parents is “how do I get my child to do what I want.” A parent that decides for their child what they want their child to do directly reduces the opportunity for collaboration or discussion, which can create more distance between them. With this authoritarian approach, the child may feel discouraged that they cannot express their feelings leaving the parent defeated as to how to fix the issue.
However, involving your child in the process of creating agreements can increase direct involvement from them, which can lead them to keep their agreements. Children feel respected when they are given an opportunity to share their thoughts and feelings on an issue.
Follow these 5 Steps for how to create Agreements:
- Sit down together when everyone is calm and have a respectful discussion about an issue that requires an agreement
- Brainstorm Solutions. Let everyone share their thoughts and feelings about the issue.
- Choose a solution that everyone can agree on and agree on a specific time deadline
- If agreement is not followed, refrain from using judgment or criticism. Instead say, “What was our agreement?”
- If agreement is still not followed, start again with Step 1.
https://www.positivediscipline.com/articles/agreements-positive-discipline-tool-card
Validate Feelings
The first few weeks of school can elicit a range of emotions from your child. Some children might be excited about making new friends or entering a new grade, while others may feel nervous and retreat from these new experiences. Whatever your child may be feeling during these first few weeks of school, you will be a source of grounding for them. They will come to you seeking guidance or support and the most important way you can help them is to validate their feelings.
Validation is all about providing children the space to simply feel without you trying to rescue, fix, or deny their feelings. When you directly acknowledge your child’s feelings through a question or statement, it models to them: I am significant and it is okay to feel what I feel. Through validation, you show them that their feelings provide crucial information about themselves in that very moment. And when children experience their feelings and are actively able to work through them, it can lead to self-regulation, and then later to appropriate problem solving.
Examples of Validation:
“You sound angry.”
“I can see that makes you very frustrated.”
“Can you tell me more about what you are feeling?”
“Do you need a hug?”
Transitioning out of summer and into the school year can be hectic and overwhelming as the entire household juggles waking up on time, carpools, bus rides, packing lunches, after school activities, completing homework, and the list goes on. And as a parent, the responsibility falls on you to manage, problem solve, and fix things along the way. However, I would like to remind you that you deserve to give yourself compassion and patience during this time because you may not meet every expectation you have for yourself as a parent. And that is okay.
The creator of Positive Discipline, Jane Nelson says, “the first step in learning to be the best (but not perfect) parent you can be is to create a roadmap to guide you to your destination.” My hope is that by implementing and practicing these three techniques it will serve as a path to more meaningful moments with your child.
