Advocating for Themselves When Something's Wrong: Building Self-Advocacy in Children
Last Sunday, my 9-year-old received the wrong meal at a restaurant. She looked at me with wide eyes, clearly wanting to say something but too nervous. Instead of immediately speaking up for her, I remembered our family’s commitment to the Life-Ready approach. I leaned in and whispered, “This is a perfect chance to practice. What would you like to say? I’m right here if you need me.” The look of anxiety mixed with growing determination on her face told me we had a perfect opportunity to practice self-advocacy in a low-stakes environment. ...