The change affects everyone, from 5-year-old children to 50-year-olds. Some people are able to cope with the changes and move on, while others find it difficult to move on from the past. This is particularly more common in children. Adults find time to manage their emotions, but children find it difficult to understand or express their emotions and feelings.
It is important to make your children feel that their feelings are valid. When emotions remain unprocessed, it can lead to changes in behavior. The best people to help children cope with their emotions are their parents. If you are a parent and unable to help your child, you can count on Oklahoma City family counseling to come to your rescue.
Tips to help your child cope with change
- Acknowledge their feelings.
One of the most common mistakes parents make when their child is dealing with difficult feelings is disregarding them just because they are a child. Doing this not only ignores the problem but makes your child feel like they cannot trust you enough to confide in you. Acknowledge their feelings, make them feel heard, and let them know what they are feeling is normal. Click here more information: Webtoon XYZ
Phrases that may help include, “You seem nervous,” “You seem angry,” or “You seem sad.”
- Read books about big life changes.
There are several good books written about children going through big changes in life and how to cope with them. Since many children do not read books and it would be wrong to force them, you can always read them to them and make them understand the meaning. If your child reads books, then it is great news. If not, you can narrate it to them.
- Look for the positives.
When children go through big changes, they quickly imagine and assume the worst due to facing the unknown and being inexperienced in facing problems. You might hear things like, “You will love the new baby more than me,” or “You will forget about me.” Instead of laughing it off, talk to them about the change in a positive and exciting way. For example, you can talk about how the new baby will mean a playing partner for your child.
- Give them choices and ask for help.
When experiencing big changes in life, especially ones they are unhappy with, it is important to make them feel included in everything. For example, moving to a different city and leaving their friends behind can be hard. But, allowing them to make small choices, like letting them choose the color of their bedroom wall, gives them some sense of agency.
