Wuhan Tianyou Star: When children have emotions, parents should avoid getting into a contest; this way, educational guidance will be effective!
On the path of a child’s growth, emotional management is an important and complex topic. Faced with sudden emotional fluctuations in children, many parents often feel at a loss and even unconsciously engage in a “contest” with their children, trying to solve the problem by forcefully suppressing or ignoring it. However, Wuhan Tianyou Star Children’s Hospital reminds parents: When children have emotions, understanding and guidance are far more effective than confrontation. Here are some practical educational guidance strategies to help parents accompany their children better.
1. Recognize emotions and accept them first
Firstly, parents need to recognize that emotions are a normal psychological reaction for everyone, including children. When children cry, throw tantrums, or show other negative emotions, this is their way of trying to express their inner feelings and needs. Parents should first accept their emotions, providing a safe emotional harbor for the children, letting them know that their emotions are seen and understood.
2. Listen and resonate to establish connection
When children are emotionally agitated, listening is more important than lecturing. Bend down, and with gentle eyes and tone, encourage children to express their feelings. Even if the child is young and unable to articulate clearly, parents should patiently listen and try to understand the needs and troubles behind their emotions. Through resonance, let children feel valued and respected, thereby establishing a closer parent-child relationship.
3. Emotion recognition and teaching expression
In daily life, parents can use games, picture books, and other methods to help children recognize and name various emotions. When children can accurately identify their emotions, they will be better able to control and manage them. At the same time, teaching children to express their emotions in appropriate ways, such as “I feel angry because…”, helps them learn to express dissatisfaction or needs with language instead of behavior.
4. Set boundaries and guide reasonably
While we need to accept children’s emotions, it does not mean we should simply indulge them without principles. Parents need to set reasonable behavioral boundaries, helping children understand which behaviors are acceptable and which are not. When children lose control of their emotions, gently but firmly remind them to adhere to the rules, and guide them to find more appropriate ways to release their emotions, such as deep breathing, drawing, or exercising.
5. Lead by example and set a model
Parents are children’s best teachers. In daily life, parents should demonstrate good emotional management skills, remaining calm and optimistic when facing stress and challenges, setting a positive example for their children. When parents themselves encounter emotional issues, they can also appropriately show children how to self-regulate, allowing children to learn emotional management gradually.
Emotional management for children is a long-term and detailed process that requires parents’ patience, wisdom, and love. Wuhan Tianyou Star Children’s Hospital calls on parents to set aside the “contest” mentality when children have emotions and to guide them with a more understanding and tolerant attitude. Through effective communication and guidance, help children establish a healthy mechanism for emotional expression and management, laying a solid foundation for their future growth.
