Raising a "glass half empty" child

Early Childhood Education Specialist Janis Keyser, MA, shares advice for parents with a child who sees the world as the glass half empty and help them be more positive
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Raising a "glass half empty" child

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There are kids who see the world as the glass is half empty. I think parents are really challenged about how to respond to this child. How can I help this child? They seem like that always want more. They want me to get them things. There are two ways to think about this. One is that we need people in the world that see the glass as half empty. Those are the people who see where change needs to happen. Those are the people who make moves when things aren't working well. On the other hand, when a child is continuously coming from that perspective, the parent feels like, "I need to fix it. I need to get them something. I need to grant all their wishes." I think what the child is really asking is: Who am i? What am I good at? How can I succeed? I think if we continuously try to buy them happiness, we'll be on a treadmill. That doesn't buy them happiness, but if we can figure out what they really want to do. How can they have that feeling of accomplishment? How can they have that feeling of competence? Is it sports? Is it art activities? How can we help them discover what their particular skill is so we can help them build it and move through the struggle and help them get good at something. They will have a stronger sense of self and that their happiness is going to come from the inside.

Early Childhood Education Specialist Janis Keyser, MA, shares advice for parents with a child who sees the world as the glass half empty and help them be more positive

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Janis Keyser, MA

Early Childhood Education Specialist & Author

Janis Keyser currently works as a site director for a child development program in Mountain View, California. She was a full-time faculty member in the Early Childhood Education Department at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California for 30 years, teaching children, teachers and parents and coordinating a state demonstration infant toddler program. She has written a resource book for parents and one for teachers; and is a nationally recognized speaker at parenting, family and child development conferences, and has conducted workshops nationally and internationally for parents and teachers for over 35 years. She enjoys swimming, kayaking, photography, family games and cooking with friends of all ages.

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