How To Raise Kids Who Self-Advocate, with guest Lizzie Assa

The Motherhood Kit

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In today’s episode, Yamel is joined by Lizzie Assa and together they dive into an important topic; how to raise kids who confidently self-advocate. Join Yamel and Lizzie as they discuss ways you can encourage your children to find their voice and use it, why this is so important, and practical strategies you can use to empower yourself and your child.

Lizzie Assa is the founder of The Workspace for Children, a parenting strategist, play expert, and mother of three. With a background in early childhood education and experience working with families and children, Assa helps parents and caregivers avoid burnout by teaching their children independent play. She is a firm believer in the power of simplicity and consistency in play, and is dedicated to promoting these values. She has been featured in various publications such as Parent’s Magazine, NY Times Parenting, Time, and The WSJ.

You can find out more about Lizzie at her website and her Instagram page.

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Tune in to hear Yamel and Lizzie’s conversation on how to raise kids who self-advocate, including the below advice:

Cultivating self-advocacy can start as early as when you’re changing diapers

Self-advocacy can be encouraged from when your children are very young, for example when changing your baby’s diaper you can invite them to be part of the process by talking to them throughout, which gives them an element of control, and also rewires your thinking and encourages you to see that child as a whole person.

Model self-advocacy for your children in your home

Create a culture in your home where everyone has a voice and where different opinions can be shared, and be conscious of modelling self-advocacy for your children to observe and learn from. This can and must be done respectfully, and doesn’t mean your home has no boundaries, but instead allows your children to cultivate their voice and allows them to feel seen and understood. One strategy Lizzie recommends to help with this is to use a reflective speaking technique, to mirror their feelings and show them they’ve been heard.

Teach your children that it’s okay to ruffle some feathers

The journey to self-advocacy may mean that your child ruffles some people’s feathers and it may be uncomfortable at times but teach them that this is okay, and empower them to start to really make choices in their own world. One powerful way to do this is to encourage independent playtime, where your child can have complete control and ownership over the situation.