Building Daily Deposits

Think of connection as a bank account. Every positive interaction — a laugh, a hug, a moment of focused attention — is a deposit. Every correction is a withdrawal. You need the account full before withdrawals feel manageable to your child.

Build deposits throughout the day: 10 minutes of floor time in the morning, a specific observation at dinner, a bedtime ritual that is theirs alone. These small consistent investments compound. When you do need to correct, the child hears it from someone whose account is full rather than someone who only shows up to withdraw.