Connection Over Attention: The Love Tank Fix pt 2

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The moment your kid starts “acting out,” do you see a problem to shut down or a need to understand?

We dig into a shift that changes everything for parents: many so-called attention-seeking behaviors are really relationship-seeking bids for connection. When you respond as if your child is reaching for closeness rather than trying to control you, your next move gets clearer and your home gets calmer.

We talk through how to acknowledge the need for connection without reinforcing inappropriate behavior, using a connect-before-correct approach drawn from trust-based relational intervention principles. You’ll hear practical language you can use right away, including how to label what you’re seeing, offer a replacement behavior, and actually practise that replacement with your child so it becomes a real skill instead of a one-time lecture. We also explore the tricky line between ignoring behavior and ignoring a child, why “ignoring” can backfire and escalate, and how to stay present without getting pulled into arguments.

Finally, we share proactive tools that reduce negative bids for attention: planned connection windows, age-appropriate ways to interrupt, and boundaries that work for teens.

Contact:
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Music:
"Shine" -Newsboys
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