Sadness, anger, fear and shame are all emotions that we don’t like experiencing. And yet there are no better or worse emotions. Some may be difficult for us, but they are all necessary. Why do we need longing and sadness?

Independence requires trials and, therefore, inevitable mistakes. However, it’s great to see a child who ties their shoelaces triumphantly. By doing something by themselves, children build their self-esteem and feel agency.

We like having our own opinions, but we don’t always have the courage to express it. It’s the same with children. For them, the need to belong can be stronger than critical thinking. How to teach them courage in expressing their own opinions?

Uttering “that’s okay” through clenched teeth when juice gets spilled all over our computer, can tell a child more about our emotions than words. It’s time for another training in empathy that will help you practise recognising feelings and emotions and allow you to analyse the attitude you adopt during a conversation. This may prove useful not only in contact with the child.