It can be heartbreaking for parents when their little ones are sad
In life we all get upset or sad about things from time to time and children are no different to adults though they may struggle to show their emotions properly. Some children will become withdrawn and quiet while others will lash out and become angry, and once you notice changes in your child’s behaviour you need to ask why? While kids may not be forthcoming with their feelings it is important to find out and get to the root of the problem. There are a few things you can do if you are at your wits end worrying about your kiddie and get to the bottom of the issue.
- Give them your full attention- If you are worried about your child's sudden change in behaviour rather than ask them what’s wrong while doing the dishes, set aside a place and time where you can sit down properly without any distractions. If you have other kids in the house wait till they are in bed or ask for some privacy, if they are older they will understand.
- Ask questions and take an interest- Having a little sit down privately will enable you to gauge your child’s reactions to any questions you might have. Ask some simple questions about their day, who they are friends with in school and how is their teacher? Take an interest about what they are getting up to and hopefully this will give you an insight into why your child is suddenly sad.
- Distract your child- If you do manage to get to the root of the problem now is the time that you both sort it out and solve the issues. If it is a case that your child hasn’t got any friends encourage them to invite a kid from school over, if not maybe ask a friend’s child or a cousin to come over. Try to distract them by keeping them busy so they don’t dwell on their problem, and tell your kiddie that things will improve.
- Spend time together- A problem shared is a problem halved and your kid will like having you to talk to once they have gotten over the first confession that they are not happy about something. Keep your child close especially when they are upset and show them that life is full of great things and sometimes life may be hard but you are always there to help them.
- Brainstorm together ways to make your kiddie feel better- Consider having a brainstorming session and discuss how you can help the situation that is making your child sad. It may not be simple but you can take little steps in reaching a solution, try drawing a little chart documenting what your child hopes to achieve in the next few weeks. Tick off boxes as they pass by a step and be encouraging to their ambitions and that they want to get back to normal as soon as possible.
Good luck X Written by Emma, staff writer with www.familyfriendlyhq.ie and Irish mummy blogger. Check out her own blog at emmasmadjotters.com