Two of the most influential questions to ask littleuns as they start figuring out the basics of cause & effect:

1. Who did this?

2. How are you going to fix this?

I’ve found this helps teach fundamental concepts that need to stick with them as they grow up – accountability and responsibility.

As they answer the questions, they come to realise that they own the problem, and they have to figure out how to recover from their mistakes.

If done gently they will learn that making mistakes isn’t the end of the world, and that will lead to more honesty as they trust your reactions.

This comes not from doing it right as a parent, but from my mistakes I’ve made as a parent!