21/01/2021
Raising an emotionally healthy child is a worthy goal, as children with strong emotional and mental strength have better coping strategies. Emotionally healthy children tend to be more resilient and more able to bounce back from setbacks and disappointments. Here are some steps you can take to help your child enhance social well-being:
1- Let your children know that it is normal to feel angry, sad or frustrated, and it's okay to share those feelings. Give them the opportunity to express themselves without fear of judgement as emotional expression is healthy.
2- Talk to your children about the fact that they own their feelings, and that their anger or sadness is not caused by someone else. They're angry or sad because of how they chose to respond, because emotional responses are triggered by our interpretations and the meaning that we attach to situations. Make your child understand that whatever situation, they can choose their responses.
3- At times there are moments when your child has upset moments, maybe because you scolded him or he misses some friend, or wants a new toy. Parents should always Respect child's need to grieve, be sad, joyful or to cry in privacy. Tell them that it’s okay to cry and let it all out.
4- Parents need to model good emotional and mental stability particularly in times of stress because your children are going to adopt your way of dealing with conflicts. They'll remember how strong you were, how resilient you were and how you held things together when everything was falling apart.
5- Encourage your child to articulate the different emotions that they have experienced such as anger, fear, joy, or happiness, and teach them coping skills for managing different emotions.
