02/01/2026
Building a positive relationship with a child starts with connection, not control.
Children open up when they feel emotionally safe, not judged or constantly corrected.
Every behavior is communication. Tantrums, silence, anger are signals of unmet needs.
Calm comes before correction.
A dysregulated child cannot learn.
You can set boundaries with empathy.
Being firm and kind can exist together.
Mistakes will happen. Repair builds trust. Apologize, reconnect, begin again.
Children learn less from words and more from what we model every day.