Losing a Board Game Without Melting Down: The First-Time Gap That Shapes Emotional Regulation
Last Tuesday, my 8-year-old burst into tears when his younger sister beat him at Candy Land. “This is SO unfair!” he wailed, sending game pieces flying across the floor. I knelt beside him and whispered, “Life-Ready Parenting means your child won’t face this for the first time at age 25—with rent due and no safety net.” In that moment, I realized we had a perfect opportunity to practice losing gracefully in a low-stakes environment. ...