Having the freedom to learn from our mistakes is important for children too, not just us. Recalling coercive interference from our own childhood can spur us on to keep taking our children seriously as best we can.
Wikipedia is mistaken about how Taking Children Seriously started. This is how it actually started.
The unexpected benefits for ourselves in our own minds, of taking our children seriously.
How the word ‘respect’ led this parent to Taking Children Seriously
Like many parents new to these ideas, Brooke was initially shocked by Taking Children Seriously, but two years in, much has changed. This is her story.
When your view suddenly shifts, like when viewing the Gestalt two-face image, it can feel as if Taking Children Seriously has suddenly come into focus—and this paradigm shift creates a virtuous circle of positive change.
The experience of someone new to Taking Children Seriously, from first scepticism to later taking their children seriously.
Encouraging children fully express their big emotions does not solve the problem and may well be intrusive. Children’s inner lives are private. The idea that merely getting the emotion out solves the problem is a mistake. Problems are soluble, and it is fun to do so. Part of why children have these big emotions is that they are not being taken seriously and problems are not actually getting solved.
Taking Children Seriously means different things to different people. Consent is very important in our relationships, including with our children.
How a post on misc.kids (a newsgroup) led to this parent exploring Taking Children Seriously.