The Black Dress Trick for Better Communication with your Children

Wine with Wita | Speech Pathology & Parenting Support · Feb 6, 2025 · 7m

Hi everyone,

In this solo episode of Wine with Wita, I’m sharing one of my favourite strategies for supporting children’s communication—the Black Dress Analogy.

Think about how you feel in a black dress: confident, comfortable, and validated.

Now, compare that to how you might feel in a white dress—anxious, self-conscious, and unsure.

The way we give feedback to our children can have the same effect.

💡 Key takeaway?

When we praise and encourage our children in a way that makes them feel good, they’re far more likely to repeat positive behaviours.

But when feedback feels critical or negative…