All preschoolers cry! But some personality types get upset more easily and often than others. If that's your kid, here's how to deal.
to express her emotions—by then I had a lot of tips and tricks and a thick skin. But knowing why it happens and how to regulate it can make a difference when helping your child navigate their big feelings.
Sarah Mason, a mom of four from Oakville, Ont., experienced this with her youngest, while trying to find the right strategy for managingduring transitions or when they set boundaries. “You feel like you need to do something in the moment to control the behaviour and stop it immediately, because there’s an idea that you’re letting them get away with it. But it wasn’t working for us.”
Leinweber reminds parents that many preschoolers lack the language to describe what they are feeling, while others are still working on social norms and understanding how their behaviour impacts others. And, just like grown-ups, preschoolers have what Leinweber refers to as “need boxes” that have to be filled . “When kids this age want one of those needs to be met, they ask in ‘up or down ways,’ as I call it. Crying can be one of those ‘down’ ways.
Other helpful strategies include bypassing language by holding up two hands and asking your child to high-five the hand that fits their need—for example, do theyor do they need to jump up and down 10 times? You can also tell the story of what happened for your child and narrate it using feeling words. “You felt sad when” phrases should be followed by “Am I getting that right?” questions, recommends Leinweber. This validates the child and provides a way to teach language for those feelings.
Finally, she tells parents to notice the magic time that comes between mad and sad and to stay there with your child as they move into it. “Sadness offers a moment for connection and repair, when parents can move toward their child and remind them of their goodness.” Mason found that magic and it’s working: “I finally gave up trying to correct [the tears], and now I just love my kid through her hard moments.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
After Cancer Comeback, Canada’s Max Parrot Captures Slopestyle GoldThree years after a cancer diagnosis and a dozen chemotherapy treatments, Canada's Max Parrot nailed the biggest run of his career on a one-of-a-kind course to capture slopestyle gold
Read more »
Anti-vaxx father loses custody of children over his refusal to get COVID-19 vaccineThe man has three kids, one of which is an immunocompromised 10-year-old daughter, and he and his new partner have refused the vaccine. Courts ruled the father will not be permitted to see his children in person but can 'Zoom' with them.
Read more »
Anti-vaxx father loses custody of children over refusal to get vaccine: reportsA New Brunswick father who refuses to get vaccinated has lost custody of his three children, including his immunocompromised 10-year-old daughter, because he won't get the shot, reports say.
Read more »
16-year-old boy charged in murder, attempted murder of 2 teens in Little VillageA 16-year-old boy has been charged with first degree murder in the shooting death of another 16-year-old boy in Little Village in January, police said.
Read more »