- Help him see that mistakes are just opportunities to learn. Encourage him to try again and ask him to make dua.
- If he made the mistake because of a lack of understanding, explain and re-explain what he needs to know. Be patient while explaining.
- Without yelling or criticizing, help him focus on what he’s trying to accomplish. “How did you happen to look (or turn out). What was suppose to happen? Make a dua to Allah (SWT) that he gives you patience.
- Ask him what he might do differently next time. Let him predict or guess at the possible outcomes of a different approach.
- Trust in his ability to figure out or find a solution. Help him rethink his approach, strategy, or goal, but fight the temptation to fix it for him.
- Avoid expressing disapproval or disappointment. Instead, try ‘oops!’, ‘That’s interesting!’ or “That wasn’t what you had in mind, was it?”
- Describe the situation without blaming. ‘Too many sweets can cause a tummy ache’ is different from ‘you are sick because you over ate.’
- Don’t yell, shame or call him ‘stupid.’ There is a difference between making a mistake and being one.
Always pray together.
Extracted from The Little Book of Lists – Do’s and Don’t’s of Effective Parenting by Dr. Rida Beshir
