It can make us focus on our weaknesses rather than our strengths.

But when I didn’t acknowledge her feelings, all she heard of my effort to persuade her to stay was “Blah blah blah blah blah.” Children depend on us to name their feelings so that they can find out who they are. If we don’t, our unspoken message is: “You don’t mean what you say, you don’t know what you know, you don’t feel what you feel, you can’t

“Jacket.”

This time I said, “This is frustrating! You don’t like the trains coming apart.”

“Your 6:00 p.m. bath is ready, sir!”

“If you aren’t sure what’s right, try it out on yourself.”

When we demonstrate generosity of spirit by accepting feelings, we help our children become more resilient,

Let’s call it the art of being playful.

The best way to inspire a child to do better in the future is to give him an opportunity to do better in the present.