VALIDATION: the recognition and acceptance of another person’s thoughts, feelings, sensations, and behaviors as understandable

How do I recognize you as a unique person? What can I do to understand your feelings, sensations and behaviors? How can I let you know that you mean something to me and I value you as a human?

VALIDATION – WHAT YOU CAN DO RIGHT NOW

Have a baby or frequent interaction with a baby?

• Listen, and learn your baby’s unique style of communication
• Respond to your baby’s efforts to communicate
• Look into your baby’s eyes
• Smile at your baby
• Snuggle and hug your baby
• Provide physical and verbal reassurance during times when your baby is distressed
• Always let your baby know it is an important part of your life
• Remember times when you were heard and acknowledged and how that felt – want that for your baby
• Instill a sense of belonging by practicing inclusive behaviors such as telling your baby what is going on and that they have a part in it.
• Put forth your full attention with the intent of knowing what your child is feeling and thinking, then confirm with your child that you understand.
• Imagine all babies being acknowledged through loving kindness

Don’t have a baby?

• Say hi to and smile at babies
• Catch a baby’s eye and wave hello
• Remember times when you were heard and acknowledged and how that felt – want that for all babies
• Put forth your full attention with the intention of knowing what a child is feeling and thinking, then confirm with the child that you understand
• Imagine all babies being validated through loving kindness