Was talking to a friend the other day, who wants to start doing some different things now her kids are getting a bit older.  Every idea she had was shot down with barriers by other people, and it got me thinking about how negative we often are when anyone has an idea.

The training starts young ...  how many times do you see the faults in your kids' ideas, and point out why things won't work?   How many times do you look awkward, and stop them telling other people how clever they are, or how well they did at something....     Its not nice to show off is it? ....

From another perspective, maybe what we are unintentionally doing is undermining our children's confidence, and encouraging them not to enjoy their success...   maybe this is the start of a pattern of not believing in themselves?

Next time my son has an idea, I will try to think of all the reasons why its good ....