For most parents, the hardest thing about going through a tough time is seeing the effect it has on their children. However, this can be an opportunity for parents to model coping skills for their children that they can use throughout their lives.
Here are a few ways to help children through a time of stress and anxiety whether it is divorce, problems at school, a death in the family or some other difficult change.In the event that you’re going through a divorce, you’ll also need to consider whether you’ll change your child’s name or not. If so, you can seek help from EZ Name Change so the process runs as smoothly as possible.
Listen to Them
Children need to feel heard. When they are not, they not only have more trouble coping in the short term, but they may grow into adults who think their own needs and feelings do not matter. It is important to listen to and acknowledge a child’s fears and dreams.
Talk to Them
It is also important to guide their thinking while listening to them. While a friendly listening ear might be appropriate for an adult, children need to be guided in how to manage their emotions. This should be done in an age-appropriate way. For very young children, it may be enough to simply reassure them that you would not let the thing that they fear happen. As children get older, parents can begin working through their concerns with more nuance and complexity. It is important to remind children that they can feel emotions like fear and anxiety without letting those emotions control them. Parents should show their child at all times that they love them and that they or other adults will take care of them.
Establish Stability
Children love routine and stability, and when times are hard, parents should make an effort to keep as many things in life the same as possible. If the upheaval is so great that stability is difficult to establish, parents may want to consider starting new routines that will convey a sense of comfort. This can be as simple as a cup of hot chocolate and a chat about one another’s day on the couch at night before bedtime.
Reduce Conflict
If the upheaval is a result of conflict between family members, particularly divorce, parents should make an effort to reduce conflict in front of children. Reducing conflict between parents will in turn help the children.
All families go through difficult periods. However, they do not have to be traumatic for children with parents guiding them along the way.