Toddlers Made Easy with Dr Cathryn

The Helper Trap: How to raise a caring child who doesn’t feel responsible for everything


Listen Later

When a child is naturally kind and eager to help—especially with a new sibling—it can look beautiful on the outside… and still raise quiet worries on the inside.

In this episode, we talk about how to nurture empathy without teaching a child to disappear herself—and how to keep helping a choice, not a role.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • The difference between helping as a choice and helping as a responsibility

  • Why constant praise for being “helpful” can unintentionally teach self-sacrifice

  • What to say (out loud) so your child knows caregiving is not her job

  • How to praise self-advocacy—not just kindness

  • Simple shifts that keep your child developmentally centered on herself

    This episode is especially meaningful for parents of eldest children and those raising deeply empathetic kids.

    🎧 If this big-hearted approach resonates with you, explore Toddlers Made Easy—my practical, developmentally informed course for everyday toddler challenges, in under five minutes a day.


    RESOURCES:

    👉 Follow ⁠Dr. Cathryn on Instagram

    👉 Subscribe to my free newsletter for big-hearted parenting tips delivered straight to your inbox


    Sponsor:

    Laundry Sauce

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Toddlers Made Easy with Dr CathrynBy Dr. Cathryn

    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7

    4.7

    151 ratings


    More shows like Toddlers Made Easy with Dr Cathryn

    View all
    Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled by JLML Press

    Respectful Parenting: Janet Lansbury Unruffled

    3,652 Listeners

    Mindful Mama: Raising Kind, Confident Kids Without Losing Your Cool | Parenting Strategies For Big Emotions & More by Hunter Clarke-Fields

    Mindful Mama: Raising Kind, Confident Kids Without Losing Your Cool | Parenting Strategies For Big Emotions & More

    446 Listeners

    Calm Parenting Podcast by Kirk Martin

    Calm Parenting Podcast

    1,459 Listeners

    Raising Good Humans by Dear Media, Aliza Pressman

    Raising Good Humans

    1,894 Listeners

    HERself by Abby and Amy

    HERself

    1,736 Listeners

    The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom by Dr. Mona Amin

    The PedsDocTalk Podcast: Child Health, Development & Parenting—From a Pediatrician Mom

    1,494 Listeners

    Good Inside with Dr. Becky by Dr. Becky Kennedy

    Good Inside with Dr. Becky

    4,518 Listeners

    MOMS ON CALL by Moms on Call LLC & tentwentytwo

    MOMS ON CALL

    201 Listeners

    Alive & Well – Nervous System, Productivity, Time Management, Somatic Tools, Work-Life Balance, Burnout, Anxiety by Michelle Grosser – Inspired by Mel Robbins, Dr. Andrew Huberman, and Ed Mylett

    Alive & Well – Nervous System, Productivity, Time Management, Somatic Tools, Work-Life Balance, Burnout, Anxiety

    526 Listeners

    The Oh Crap! Potty Training Podcast by Jamie Glowacki

    The Oh Crap! Potty Training Podcast

    43 Listeners

    After Bedtime with Big Little Feelings by Dear Media and Big Little Feelings

    After Bedtime with Big Little Feelings

    5,536 Listeners

    Oh Crap with Jamie by Jamie Glowacki

    Oh Crap with Jamie

    34 Listeners

    Robot Unicorn by Nurtured First

    Robot Unicorn

    336 Listeners

    Talking Toddlers by Erin Hyer

    Talking Toddlers

    50 Listeners

    BratBusters Parenting Podcast by Lisa Bunnage

    BratBusters Parenting Podcast

    267 Listeners