During this time of quarantine when you are around your family possibly more than ever before, you’ve probably found yourself using harsher words than usual, raising your voice more often, or expressing exasperation at the expense of your child’s feelings. This is completely normal, considering the stress of this time, but since I have been posing challenges all month long, I think a Communication Challenge is critically important for this time.

With this challenge, I want you to focus on reframing your words from negative to positive. This is a simple change but requires thought and effort, as our default is often to point out the negative with our words or choose words of criticism rather than encouragement.

The reason your words are so important to your child is that your child is always wondering about one thing: How do you feel about me?

Children read their parents for clues about how they feel about them all the time. They do this because they have a primal need to connect with and feel loved by their parents.

Once they realize how you feel about them, they internalize those feelings and their identity takes shape.

Think back to when you were a…