12/02/2026
Many parents worry that validating feelings means letting behaviour slide.
In reality, validation is what makes behaviour change possible.
When teens feel misunderstood, their nervous system stays on high alert.
Correction, even well-intended, can escalate things quickly.
Validation lowers the threat.
It communicates safety.
And it creates the conditions where guidance can actually land.
This isn’t permissive parenting.
It’s neurologically informed parenting.