Danielle Dick adds that a lot of parenting is pushing gently against your kid’s traits: encouraging your timid child to try new experiences or teaching your extroverted child to slow down and have some quiet time. Punishing children so they won’t repeat bad behavior doesn’t work, she argues. Focusing on the “positive opposite” does. Instead of calling attention to the behavior you want your child to stop, call attention to the behavior you want them to do.
