As parents, it’s our job to give our kids the tools they need to face struggle without breaking.
I’ve studied over 200 parent-child relationships, and I’m a mother myself. My goal has always been to teach kids how to process hard feelings and move forward. Mentally strong kids know how to regulate their emotions, trust themselves, and rebound after setbacks. And that kind of strength is built at home, in the everyday moments between parent and child.
Here are seven things to avoid if you want to raise mentally strong kids.
Kids build resilience by learning that can get through tough situations. When you rush to fix every problem, you rob your child of resilience. Let them wrestle with discomfort while staying present as their safe base.
What to do: Clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour says kids who regularly face age-appropriate challenges build stronger emotional regulation over time.
