Sometimes it’s hard to find just the right words to say. These catch phrases can help by offering you go-to phrases in stressful situations.

You need to try.

Context: When it comes to opening lunch boxes, yogurts, putting on or taking off shoes, and many other tasks, we expect children to try and do what they are capable of before we step in to offer help.

Your child has just picked up their tray and is passing it to you, saying, “Help!” Respond with, “It looks like you want your lunch tray open. You need to try and open it. If you’re having trouble, I can step in and help.”

It can be really surprising to see what your child can do when you give them the space to try!