The past few years have caused a massive upheaval to traditional coping mechanisms, both for adults and for kids! For many people, the past few years represent the ultimate emotional test. Not only have our social lives been invariably altered, but our emotional support is wavering as well. And while we have been living this reality for some time, it is not getting any easier. In fact, it is getting a bit harder, especially for children. In order to mitigate this emotional imbalance, it is important to put things into place to help them feel more stable.
Understanding that feelings and responses to the same stimuli are going to vary from person to person is important. Parents need to take time to reassure their children that all emotions are okay and that what they are feeling is normal. There is no right way to cope. What parents can do is begin implementing the first four, of eight, parent tips to support their children’s emotional development during this time.
- Practice Patience: Children are greatly affected by impatience. Younger children may be more rambunctious and teens may be sleeping more. However your child is responding to their world, and it’s important to be patient with them and how they cope. Parents should also be patient with themselves and know that some days will be better than others.
- Adjust Expectations: We’ve all heard it… “Make the best of things…” We have more “free time” now than we’ve ever had. School work can be finished in a short time and many parents expect that their children would want to learn new skills or set new goals. And while it sounds like a great idea, it’s just not realistic for everyone. Adapting to how children need to cope is going to support them more emotionally.
- Listen Thoroughly: Children express their emotions in many ways. Being attuned to their feelings and the way they are expressing them is important for parents to be aware of. Observe the way they react to situations and information, watch for non-verbal cues such as behaviors, and listen to their tone of voice. Spending time carefully observing their children will allow parents the ability to better support their children’s emotional needs.
- Demonstrate Compassion: Everyone feels frustration. And since children show this through their behaviors, it’s important for parents to show empathy and give more love and support to their children. Nurturing children through the ups and downs of our current reality will teach them empathy for others and help them feel more secure.
We are all facing uncertainty and a new type of stress. Children have less experience on how to deal with this. Since they have strong emotions but also have lower self-regulation skills, parents need to make sure that they are being patient, adjusting expectations, listening, and showing empathy. These things will help children feel supported emotionally and give them the space to process things in their own way.
CLICK HERE FOR PART 2!
Blog “Helping Children Feel Secure in an Uncertain World”
Blog “How Parental Involvement Increases Child Success”
Blog “How To Manage Your Child’s Temperament”
Blog “Routines: Shifting into a New Normal”
Blog “Helping Children Set Age Appropriate Goals”
Blog “Fostering Self-Actualization in Children and Teens”
Blog “Resilience: Helping Children and Teens Build Coping Skills”
Blog “Empowering vs. Enabling – The Fine Line of Parenting
