09/02/2026
What if we stopped looking at young people as people who simply need to be taught, and started recognizing what they can teach us?
In Dancing in the Gray, Stacy L. Knoll writes from years of experience listening to children and teens navigate difficult emotions and experiences.
And one message comes through clearly: Kids are the experts in their own lives.
That doesn't mean they always have the perspective or tools to navigate everything they're experiencing. It means their thoughts and feelings deserve to be taken seriously.
Instead of saying:
“I know exactly how you feel.”
“What you need to do is…”
“You shouldn't feel that way.”
We can try:
“Tell me more.”
“Help me understand.”
“I’m listening.”
Those small changes can create an entirely different kind of conversation. Because sometimes connection begins when we stop talking long enough to truly hear what a young person is trying to tell us.
What could you learn if you approached feelings with curiosity instead of certainty?
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