As a seasoned child therapist—and a father of two—I’ve found that these 10 strategies help parents raise happy, confident, and emotionally secure kids.

That said, none of us parents are perfect. We won’t and can’t do all of these 10 things all the time. And some of the 10 items below may not feel natural or comfortable for you, and that’s OK too. We only have to be a good-enough parent.

Saying yes to your child means loosening the reins and indulging them a little. It means being as flexible as you can while still setting clear limits as you normally would. For instance, let them make a fort from blankets, pillows, and couch cushions, knowing this will create more work for you, cleaning up later. Let them paint their bike. Let them invent a cookie recipe which you help them make and bake, knowing it will likely be barely edible.

You get the idea.

When we say yes, we’re really saying, “What you want is important to me. You are important to me.”

Ultimately, saying yes builds a child’s self-esteem and self-worth.

When your 5-year-old asks, “What happens to Grandma now that she died?” hold off on explaining about death, funerals, the circle of life, heaven, etc. Yes, the question sounds intellectual, but so often kids are really trying to express emotions. In this case, first invite your child to talk about how they feel about Grandma’s death.

If........

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