In The Strength Switch psychologist Lea Waters points out that we are often more attuned to our kids’ shortcomings than to their strengths. Strength-based parenting does the opposite, focusing first on the strengths that our kids already have, as opposed to weaknesses or what needs to be “fixed.”

When we work with our kids from their highest baseline, we support their flourishing; when we work with them from their lowest baseline, we merely lessen a negative, at best.