Choice central to growing up
Helen Sholdice has never forgotten this insight from a school-going child. A child therapist and parent child coach, Sholdice says parents find it difficult when their children say no. “They often misunderstand or misinterpret the child’s no. They label it as defiant, disobedient, or bold. Parents can feel their child’s getting out of control. In fact, parents are so anxious that their child be not out of control they tend to come down hard on him by expecting immediate obedience.”
Parents are often unaware of how vital it is for a child to be able to say no, that no can be a positive thing and that it presents an opportunity to educate the child to stand up for himself, make decisions, and act on those.
