The 5:1 rule is one of the most practical tools a parent can have — and it's simpler than you think.
Originally researched by psychologist John Gottman in marriages, the principle maps directly onto parenting: for every correction, aim for five positive interactions first. Not a tally. Just an intention to tip the balance toward warmth.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why your relationship with your child works like a bank account
- How our negativity bias works against us as parents — and how to counteract it
- What a positive interaction actually looks like (hint: it's not empty praise)
- How the way you talk to your child becomes their inner voice
The goal isn't perfection. It's just tipping the balance.
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