Lesson Summary:
Dr. Kevin Skinner (LMFT, CSAT-S, EMDR), a licensed marriage and family therapist, explains that a child’s healthiest development comes from the relationship and environment we create, especially through attunement, noticing and responding to their emotional needs even when we are tired or distracted.
He emphasizes teaching kids to name emotions like sad, happy, angry and looking beneath tantrums to what is really driving the behavior such as fatigue, fear, or overwhelm.
By balancing necessary boundaries with empathy and helping children build a strong voice and sense of self, caregivers support resilience, trust, and emotional growth.