Learning to read your child's behavioral cues

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Transcription:

Parents often wonder with young children about how to best read their cues, especially with a toddler or a child with limited verbal ability. And one of the things that interesting that's come out of mental research, is the idea that not knowing is actually an important part of understanding your role as a parent. Parents who can see that they can't always directly read their child's mind. There's child's mind is opaque and not directly observable. And it's really about being curious and about trying to understand, rather than knowing the absolute right answer. For example, you might have a child who could be hungry or they might be tired or they might want some attention and when the parent approaches that child, and says, maybe you're hungry and that doesn't work. Or maybe you need some time with mommy or daddy. Maybe that will work. The child doesn't need you know right off the bat what's going on, they need you to be interested and curious and this helps them to feel understood. And it also helps parents to feel less pressure to know exactly what's going on in any given situation.

Video Categories: ALL PARENTS, Parenting, Bonding and Communication

Watch Video: Learning to read your child's behavioral cues by John Grienenberger, PhD, ...

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Expert Bio

John Grienenberger, PhD

Family Psychologist

John Grienenberger, PhD, is a psychologist, attachment researcher, and Co-Executive Director of the non-profit Center for Reflective Communities in Los Angeles. He is also a Founder, Executive Director and Clinical Director of Community West, a psychological treatment center for adolescents and young adults in Los Angeles. He has extensive experience in family work, and has trained hundreds of therapists in his mentalization-based approach to working with families. He has authored numerous papers, presentations, and training programs in the areas of psychotherapy, attachment, mentalization, and parenting, and has conducted trainings and presentations both nationally and internationally. He has a part-time private practice in West Los Angeles conducting psychological and psychoeducational testing as well as providing psychotherapy to children, adults, families, and couples. Along with spending time with his children, John also enjoys backpacking, snowboarding, hiking, and mountain biking.