@abanaturally: I know exactly where your mind goes when you have to hold a boundary. You worry your child will think you’re mean. That they’ll feel unloved. That you’re making things harder or causing more distress. But here’s what I want you to know. I’ve spent the past 14 years working with kids ages 1 through 21—and the parents and teachers who support them—across every kind of need and ability. And the kids who came to me with no history of boundaries? They weren’t living stress-free lives. They were in distress constantly, because the moment someone told them “no” or made them stop doing something they wanted to do, everything fell apart. I’ve worked with students who would run away, drop to the floor, hit, cry, scream, take off their clothes, or make themselves throw up… all because no one had taught them how to handle boundaries. And maybe your child’s behavior isn’t that extreme. Maybe it’s whining, crying, refusing. But the core issue is the same: they haven’t learned the skills yet. Because no boundaries doesn’t mean no distress. Life is full of tiny pivots: transitions, disappointments, delays, interruptions. And if a child hasn’t learned to manage those moments, they end up overwhelmed, frustrated, or in meltdown mode over and over again. But when we teach the skills: how to wait, how to be flexible, how to handle “no” without falling apart, and how to express their needs appropriately—that’s when their world opens up. They move through the day more easily. They play more. They build friendships. They cope better. And they’re genuinely happier. So if you’re holding a boundary and wondering if it’s too much… I’d argue it’s one of the kindest things you can do. Inside my Practical Parenting course, I’ll show you how to actually teach the skills your child needs, not just respond to their behavior, but change it so they can navigate their day with more confidence, independence, and ease. Because when we actually take time to teach? We spend a whole lot less time managing, and life finally starts working for everyone. Comment READY and I’ll show you how.  #behavior #positiveparenting #bcba #parenting #aba #toddlersofinstagram #parentsofinstagram #rbt #parentsoftiktok #toddlersoftiktok #toddlertantrums

Jenna, BCBA, NYSLBA, M.S.Ed

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Tuesday 17 June 2025 00:28:01 GMT