Many of us view distraction as the ultimate tool in our emotional arsenal, figuring that if we can distract our crying toddler from whatever it is they are crying about, we can stop the crying altogether. We've all dangled a favorite toy in front of tear-streaked faces or sung a song through clenched teeth in high-pitched desperation! Sadly, though, distraction misses an opportunity to connect with your child and teach them how to deal with their emotions.
Yes, if he's fighting over a toy with another child, distracting your boy with a second toy is completely appropriate. But if your child is crying because you helped them put their shoes on instead of letting them do it by themselves, distraction is likely to only make them respond louder and more fervently in order to be heard.
It's true that sometimes distraction can work, but it's often just a Band-Aid. It doesn't help your child to learn how to cope with a similar situation or emotion in a more positive way in the future.
