Have you ever thought about the importance of demonstrating positive relationships to your child?
We know how a regular bank account works: we make regular deposits (and withdrawals), and hopefully put enough aside for a rainy day. But, what is an emotional bank account? Dr Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families, using the metaphor of an emotional bank account to describe how parents can build – and break down – relationships with their children.
He suggests that deposits are made when parents proactively do things that build trust, while withdrawals are made by reactively doing things that decrease trust. The current ‘balance’ determines how well two people can communicate and problem-solve together.
To stay ‘in the black’ relationship researcher John Gottman suggests that for every one negative interaction, parents… Read the rest