Mental health providers and educators
studied what parents need to
raise kind, productive, creative, and joyful
young people. Using a non-profit preschool laboratory in Ann Arbor, Michigan, they discovered that parents can develop emotional muscle in themselves and in their children.
​
If parents remove obstacles and minimize frustrations, they interfere with a child's opportunities for emotional growth.
Parents Can Help Children Build Emotional Muscle
Karen Baker, MSW
Director of Child Development at the Allen Creek Preschool
Parenting Tips
Tip #1
Talk About Failure
​
Give examples of your own failures. There are plenty of opportunities to fail in life. Normalize it. Most failures won't have long term consequences.
​
​
Tip #2
Tolerate Discomfort
​
Get comfortable with your child's distress. Support & validate your child but avoid fixing things for them. This communicates you think your child can't handle what is ahead.
​
Tip #3
Expect the Shift
​
Your level of involvement in your child's life should change as they move into adolescence & adulthood.
Tip #4
Leave Room for Boredom
Allow young people to be creative, problem-solve & tolerate being alone.