As they grow up, your child will experience a range of different emotions, especially during their teenage years. It can be a confusing time but one that you can make easier by talking to them, creating a safe space and introducing them to healthy ways of dealing with how they feel. I’ve teamed up with an independent school in Surrey to explore this in further detail.
Talking
One way in which we can deal with our feelings is by talking to others. They can offer support, guidance and clarity on situations. You can help your child in this way by making yourself available and creating a relationship where they can talk to you openly without fear of being judged. This may seem tricky as you’re their parent and their wellbeing is your priority but can be achieved whilst upholding authority by showing compassion and a willingness to understand. However, it’s not always an easy thing to do which is why some prefer talking to councillors as they are complete strangers.
Mindfulness
Another method is mindfulness. It encompasses many different techniques and is a way in which we can deal with overwhelming thoughts and feelings by “grounding” ourselves to the present. They use the five senses for this – see, hear, feel, taste and smell and involve breathing exercises to help you to relax and calm down. A few mindfulness techniques to explore with children are:
- Body Scan Exercises
- Mindful Walking
- Daily gratitude
- Mindful Eating
- Balloon Belly Breathing
A Stress Toy
While we may have been told that it’s rude as a child, fidgeting can offer stress relief and a good distraction. It gives children something to focus on and ground themselves with while they work and get on with their day.
We hope that you found this article helpful. For more tips and parenting ideas like these, take a look at our blog archive where we have more just like this.
