But I already taught them this!

Hey {{ first_name }},

There’s a parenting moment that can be incredibly frustrating.

You’ve taught your child what to do. You’ve talked through the sibling conflict. You’ve practiced the calming strategy. You’ve explained how to respond when you give an instruction.

And then the moment comes when they actually need to use the skill … and they don’t.

You find yourself thinking, “But I already taught them this!”

I had that thought in mind when I recorded this week’s video because knowing what to do and being able to use that skill in the middle of a difficult moment are two different things.

Kids need practice. They need coaching. They need repetition. And sometimes they need help getting regulated before they can even access the skill they know.

So when your child doesn’t use something you’ve taught them, instead of asking, “Why aren’t they doing what I taught them?” try asking: “What’s the next thing I can do to help them grow in this?”

That question changes the way we approach the moment.

I unpack that more in this week’s video. And if you want a practical framework for helping your kids build cooperation and learn these skills, take a look at Connected Cooperation.

 Growth often requires more practice than we think it should.

B.J.