Ep. 105- Helping Kids Break Free from All or Nothing Thinking

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All-or-nothing thinking is a common mental pattern in children that can be frustrating for parents who want to help their kids gain perspective and stay emotionally grounded. We explore what's happening beneath the surface when kids think in extremes, and how we can gently support more balanced and resilient thinking.

• Children's brains are still developing, especially in the prefrontal cortex responsible for complex thought and emotional regulation
• Binary thinking (black and white, all good or all bad) is a normal developmental stage, not a flaw to be fixed
• The emotional centers of a child's brain develop before their reasoning centers, explaining many extreme reactions
• Identifying when your child is stuck in all-or-nothing thinking is the first step to helping them
• Validate emotions without reinforcing extreme statements - say "losing feels frustrating" instead of "you don't always lose"
• Model continuum thinking by verbalizing your own balanced thoughts out loud
• Use language that adds nuance like "sometimes" and "a part of me feels..."
• Praise effort, courage, and learning rather than just outcomes to build a growth mindset
• Recognize that moving from all-or-nothing to nuanced thinking is a developmental journey

*Did you know?

I'm currently opening a few one-to-one coaching spots for moms who are ready to go deeper and get personalized support as they build their own resilience. If that sounds like something you're craving, just head to LeeGerman.com and click on one-to-one coaching. We'll set up a free call to talk about where you are, where you want to be, and whether coaching is the right next step for you.

If you'd like to get the show notes for this episode, head to:

https://leighgermann.com