How many times a day do you find yourself saying something along the lines of, “Hey, cut that out!”?

What if instead, you took a minute to connect with our child before having a big reaction, or launching right into the convo to correct the challenging behavior? Bend Nurse Stephanie McCoy has a positive parenting tip for you––put connection before correction.

As Stephanie shares in the video above, the next time your kiddo refuses to put their shoes on for the fiftieth time of the day, try out these 3 steps:

1. Take time to regulate. When your child is overwhelmed, they’re probably not able to truly hear you. Take some deep breaths or step away to give everyone a moment to calm down before moving into problem-solving.
   
   
2. Use physical touch. If your child is open to it, sit next to them or give them a hug. A little affection can go a long way.
   
   
3. Validate their experience. You can say something like, “Hey this is probably pretty frustrating, huh?” Let them know you’re there with them.

Not only will this diffuse a tantrum in the moment, but it’s likely to decrease power struggles long term. And, you may even get a rare snuggle or smile out of it!