![]() ![]() Show interest in what they are interested in. Notice when they have made their best effort and when they have been kind or generous or forgiving. If a child is to be emotionally healthy and strong, those times need to be over-balanced with positive comments from those who love them. Notice and highlight positive attributes and behaviors: There are plenty of opportunities to correct, reprimand or discipline a child or teen.As adults those same positive childhood memories will help them weather the inevitable storms of life. During times of stress, those memories help our children and teens remember that things aren’t always challenging or just plain awful. But parents can counteract that power by attending to the creation of positive memories. Negative experiences have a particular and lasting power. Memories happen regardless of what we do. Most likely they were unaware that they were also doing one of the most important jobs of parenting - making positive memories. The parents who brought their families for a day at the beach were probably only looking for a way to cool off and have some fun on a Saturday. (I was delighted to later see him join in a pick-up volleyball game.) There wasn’t a cell phone or tablet in sight - except for one exasperated teenager who was sitting on a bench far from his family, huddled over his smartphone, trying to get reception where there isn’t any. “Marco!” “Polo!” One group of preteens was playfully frustrating the kid who was “it”. Older kids were building sand castles or splashing in the water with their dads or moms. Adults, knee-deep in water shared comments and jokes with each other while they watched over the toddler set. Kids, being kids, joined in each other’s games. ![]()
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