Influence & Risk
Why Act Now?
- The child’s need to be liked and to please is high.
- The child can make small mistakes, learn from them and practice, practice, practice.
- Acting now can help mitigate some of the pressure on children to grow up too quickly.
- It’s an opportunity to strengthen the relationship, establishing a pattern of honest and comfortable communication about difficult issues. This can help maintain connection as the risks get higher and the urge to pull away becomes more pronounced.
- The adult’s credibility and relevance is enhanced in the child’s eyes.
- The child can develop a foundation that can serve as a compass into teenage years when challenges carry higher risk.
- The child can establish a pattern and respect for emotional intelligence (self awareness, self-control, motivation, empathy, relationships).
- Insight is gained into the risks and the child’s readiness to deal with them.