NAT Tip #3 - “To be and not to be”
The final post in the NAT tip series continues the exploration of dialectical behaviour approaches as a behaviour management strategy.

The final post in the NAT tip series continues the exploration of dialectical behaviour approaches as a behaviour management strategy.
The elevator pitch? Basically, DBA is about both accepting what is and what needs to change. It’s also about realising that two opposing ideas can exist simultaneously. Originally adapted from Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), which is often used in clinical settings, DBA (a lighter touch, if you will) takes the same core idea of balancing acceptance and change. It makes it practical for everyday use, including parenting and teaching, which is what we will focus on today. Instead of concentrating only on stopping “bad behaviour,” DBA helps children and their caregivers recognise and accept their feelings while learning positive ways to respond.
The second in our NAT tips blog series dedicated to providing evidence-informed, children psychological advice supporting children with their Negative Automatic Thoughts. This post looks at helping children develop resiliency by leaning into admitting to the truth than trying to outrun blame.
We are all born with resilience, yet it is possible to develop even further. Risks to resilience can include repeated experiences of failure, witnessing the progression of others over our own, and not taking stock of our wins and successes. By taking this specific approach to goal setting and maintenance described within our first NAT tip, you can help your child develop lifelong resiliency skills that will benefit them inside and outside the classroom.
Negative Automatic Thoughts are those pesky gatekeepers holding us back from achieving our potential or finding out whether we can. As common as blinking, everybody experiences NATs but what happens when our children have more negative than positive thoughts? and how can we support them with this as parents and teachers. Read on to find out in our first post of the season of NATs.