As- salamu alaykum

 

Shokran for writing to our Live Session with your most important question.   While I do not know the age of the child thus I am unsure of the child’s cognitive ability to understand the process of learning “no”.  Children do however learn what “no” means pretty quickly with repetition and consistency.  When they are a little bit older, they also learn how to manipulate situations to get what they want.  As you have written in concerned about hurting the child’s feelings, or not wanting the child to be sad, perhaps this is what may be going on.

 

Children who are told “no” often learn in time that tears, sad faces, pouting will sometimes result in a reversal of the “no”.  Ask any parent and they can recall specific moments wherein they told their child “no” only to be met with big, tear-filled eyes that tugged on their heartstrings turning the “no” into a “yes”.  The child seeing that this work often will use it to get their own way.  Parents must remain strong!

 

I kindly suggest that you not focus so much on your child’s sadness when told ”no.”   You may wish to comfort your child briefly to assure them of your love, but do not give in.   Your child as a human being will face some disappointments in life and your sticking to your decisions will help your child learn coping skills that will last a lifetime insha’Allah.  Additionally, your child will develop the trust in you that when you say something, you won’t always change your mind.  This builds up security and boundaries for a child and they feel safer.

 

So insha’Allah, please do make your “no’s” concrete and do not worry about your child being sad.  Chances are, if there are some tears or sad faces, it will quickly dissolve as the child moves to the next toy or activity that has caught his/her attention.

 

We wish you the best!