""You're touching their feet. You're not overly on top of them, but if they're interested, they can come to you. But you're not going anywhere. So, it's this safe thing where you're there for them, but it's not so intense," Dr. Pressman explained."
""And then they have the opportunity to open up a little bit. And when they do, you don't pounce like a dog. You stay a cat who's welcoming the information, but not saying, 'Oh my god!' And then, because, you don't want your kids to think, You can't handle my truth. So you're not the person to tell.""
The cat-versus-dog parenting concept contrasts two approaches across child development stages. For young children, a 'dog' approach emphasizes enthusiastic presence, overt engagement, and active play. For tweens and teens, a 'cat' approach emphasizes steady availability without intrusion, subtle signals of support, and allowing children to initiate contact. Parents should respond calmly when children open up, avoiding dramatic reactions that could discourage disclosure. Parenting style can vary by child and age; some children may still need exuberant attention while older children generally benefit from measured, patient, and non-pouncing parental presence.
Read at Scary Mommy
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