Validate your child’s feelings. Whenever you become aware that your child is expressing feelings, mention that you see the emotion and that it’s okay—whatever it is. Remember, there’s no right or wrong when it comes to feelings. A certain response to a feeling may be problematic (like hitting you when he’s angry), but the feeling is always okay. So you might say: “It’s okay to feel ___________ right now.” “I would be ___________ too if that happened to me.” “Everyone has his or her own feelings. There’s no right or wrong when it comes to feelings.”
