Knowing how to deal with your feelings is an important skill, not just for oneself but for socialising with others. Some of us are more prone to feeling a certain way due to mental health conditions and children are no different.
We have shared some advice from a boarding school in Hertfordshire below on teaching your child to manage their emotions.
Practice mindfulness
Mindfulness is a way of meditating and focusing on the present moment. The reason for this is that when we feel down or anxious, we often fixate on the past or future which can’t be changed.
Teaching children how to do this can help them to be more aware of their current situation and in effect concentrate better.
How to practice mindfulness
There are a number of techniques that you can experiment with to find what works for your child.
Some prefer breathing exercises while others prefer activities like colouring which allow for self-expression.
Understanding emotions
In order to manage their emotions, children need to be able to identify them. You can help your child with this by teaching them about what they feel like and regularly asking them about how they feel.
Be a good role model
Set a good example for your child by showing them how you deal with your emotions positively so that they can do the same.
Similarly, you want to avoid conflict so that they don’t pick up any bad habits.
Sports or hobbies
Sports or other extracurricular activities can help children to find what helps them to engage their “soothing system” and feel better when experiencing negative thoughts and feelings.
These should be things that your child enjoys. Playing sports in particular can release endorphins and help them to feel less anxious.
Disclosure: this is a collaborative post