Today’s Parenting Tip:

Decide:         Your child can learn to find the kernel of truth in a criticism.

Practice:      When you hear a criticism directed at your child today, stop and talk with her about what part of the criticism might be true.

Ask whether any part of what was said to her was true.

If so, ask how she can avoid that in the future.  Help her find a way.  Give her a suggestion for how to throw away the rest of the criticism.

For example, pretend to stomp it on the ground or throw it out the window.

Let us know which tips you like the best or any others you think of that you want to pass along to others.

Today’s Decide and Practice daily parenting tip was inspired by our featured picture book, THE MONSTER WHO LOST HIS MEAN.  Read the book to a child in your life each day as a reminder of what you are deciding and practicing that day.

Come back each day for another good parenting decision and how to practice it. (Each day’s activity will also be posted on Daily Parenting Tips page for easy access.)

Read the whole story at Correct; Don’t Criticize – Part 1.