Children need time to become themselves—through play and social interaction. If you overwhelm a child with stuff—with choices and pseudochoices—before they are ready, they will only know one emotional gesture: “More!”

Competence and a feeling of well-being or self-esteem are important for both children and parents. We build our self-esteem by recognizing the positive and the negative messages and experiences life has offered us, and by making healthy decisions about those offerings. Nurture and structure help us do this. A balance of loving nurture and consisten

We can provide for our children by safeguarding their time and opportunities for open-ended imaginative play.