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Many children experience complex feelings, the same way that adults do. Children can get nervous, jealous, frustrated, embarrassed or worried in a similar fashion to adults. Some issues that children may experience is communicating these feelings to you. When they are unable to communicate how they are feeling verbally they can attempt to do so in alternative ways such as through body language, facial expressions or their behaviour. This can result in children sometimes expressing their emotions in problematic ways.
Children begin learning emotional skills that are needed to identify, express and control themselves from the moment they are born. They learn these skills through interacting with and forming relationships with other people such as their siblings, parents and carers. By spending time with your child, you can help them understand their emotions and improve their control of their feelings.
Below are some approximate milestones that your child should ordinarily be reaching, but keep in mind that each child is different, so slight variations are perfectly normal:
From one to two years of age:
From two years of age and beyond:
When toddlers reach three years of age, some of the emotions they feel can be overwhelming for them. By listening to your child talk about their emotions and encouraging them to do so, you can help your toddler feel assured and help them to understand their feelings.
Children often experience happiness and sadness similar to adults and this can impact the way in which they behave. However, it is important to note that when children fail to recover from upsetting situations, and this begins to effect other lives, that this is not normal. This can be a sign that your child is experiencing mental health problems.
If some of the below signs last for more than a few weeks, it is important to communicate with your child and seek help from your GP or paediatrician.
Your child:
Physical signs:
Social signs
Sometimes children have difficulty expressing their emotions as they experience strong emotions before they have the words to describe them. When you see your child experiencing a particular emotion, you can help by labelling it for them for example, ‘You are smiling, you must like playing with your toys’. It can also help to label emotions that your child can notice in others for example, ‘Mum is sad because she misses Grandma’.
Here are some other methods of helping your child develop their ability to label and identify emotions:
Sometimes if your child is having difficulty controlling their emotions, it can help to teach them strategies to help such as:
It is important to seek support if changes in your child’s mood or behaviour:
If looking for support, there are a wide range of options available, with the following being some examples:
If your child is five years old or above, they can talk to a Kids Helpline counsellor by calling 1800 551 800 or can send them an email using the Kid Helpline email counselling service or can access the Kids Helpline web counselling service.
If struggling to navigate any of these services, your GP can help you get started.
Parenting is a difficult journey filled with challenges and successes. One of the most common challenges many parents face is managing their child's behaviour. Children often need guidance in developing positive habits and behaviours. Reward charts, also known as behaviour charts or sticker charts, have proven to be an effective and useful tool in shaping children's behaviour through positive reinforcement.
Parenting is a difficult journey, filled with joy, laughter, and the occasional tantrum and meltdown. Tantrums are a normal part of childhood development and are often a result of a child's inability to express and manage their emotions effectively. While these outbursts can be challenging for both parents and caregivers, it's crucial as the adult, to maintain a calm composure and respond with patience and understanding. Below are some strategies for handling your child’s tantrums and keeping your cool.
Every parent wants their children to excel and succeed in life, but when competitiveness gets out of hand, it can lead to stress, anxiety, and strained relationships. Managing competitive children requires a delicate balance between building their ambition and ensuring their emotional wellbeing. In this article, we will explore strategies for nurturing healthy competitiveness and guiding your child towards a more balanced approach.
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FamilyAssist is a Latrobe Health Innovation Zone initiative funded by the State Government.
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