It is no easy task for a child to understand why they feel a certain way. Consequently, their reactions may end up being inappropriate. As parents, it is our job to teach them how to make sense of what they feel and manage their reactions in accordance with their then understanding. If your children know how to manage themselves in an overwhelming and ever-changing world, they will be better equipped to achieve whatever they set their minds to. They will also be able to have a positive impact on society throughout their life. Today we will be talking about 5 ways by which you can help your children understand their emotions and react appropriately.
1. Be a Role Model
When your kid sees you acting a certain way during specific situations, they will automatically learn that this is the outlook they are supposed to have when they feel the emotions that their parents are also feeling. This is one of the positive parenting solutions that does not require you to put in much extra effort or time in helping your children understand the ways of life. All you have to do is check yourself and it will keep your children in check as well. Children tend to pick up on queues when they are exposed to them repeatedly. That is why your behavior will have a direct impact on your children’s behavior.
2. Reassure Them Their Feelings Are Justified
More often than not, the reason for inappropriate reactions and outbursts coming from children is the feeling that there is something wrong with them for feeling this way. If you remind them time and again that their feeling is not the problem, that it is justified, then their reactions will be regulated automatically to a great extent. When they stop beating themselves up for feeling a certain way then they will be able to focus their energies on identifying the source and work on reacting in an acceptable way.
3. Teach Them to Not Always Expect a Solution
In order for your children to be less angry or sad and more proactive when it comes to dealing with their feelings, they need to learn to manage their expectations practically. They need to know that not every problem will go away and sometimes they will just have to accept that as a fact of life. You will have to teach them this explicitly for them to understand.
4. Make Them Feel Relatable
When your children feel a certain way, draw from your life experiences and tell them about times when you went through something similar. Give them hope and an enlightened perspective that things turn out okay for the most part. And also how an appropriate reaction helps lessen the escalation of whatever the problem they are going through is.
5. Teach Them to Label Feelings
Before any issue can be resolved, it needs to be identified and accepted. Teach your children this approach towards their feelings as well. Help them identify their feelings so that they know how to go about their reactions and the next steps in resolving them. Without correct identification, reactions and solutions will tend to be inappropriate. This is one of the main tactics that online parenting courses teach parents when it comes to helping children understand their emotions.
What You Can Do Next?
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2. Register for my FREE Training (for children 5 – 9yrs)
Register for my free training, ‘How To Bring Peace and Calm To Your Home & Help Support Your Child’s Emotions Without Resorting To Yelling”.
I will support you with some easy tips to help you and your family, as well as provide you with some potential solutions in a free strategy session.
You will get some great information but also if there is a fit you will be offered a spot in our Masterclass 6 Month Program.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER
Internationally Recognised Emotional Literacy & Mindfulness Expert Tenille Bentley is the founder of The Emotional Literacy and Mindfulness Academy and the author of the children’s emotional literacy books with Jazzy and Pinky and The Energy Ball. Giving children a wonderful introduction to understanding their emotions and what to do with them.
Tenille has been featured on Channel 9 News and other major outlets. Her work has been recognized in the community by The Governor of Western Australia, The Prime Minister of Australia, and Australian Financial Review.
As a child, she experienced severe anxiety and emotional traumas as well as bullying which left her feeling isolated and unable to understand why she was feeling the way she did. As an adult, this impacted her ability to make healthy decisions because she didn’t have the tools to understand her emotions.
This is why she is passionate about equipping parents with the tools to support their children to make better decisions in life and healthy ones to help support and create a balanced home life.
