Children are nothing short of amazing. You never know what to expect from them. One minute they're happy, the next minute they have tears streaming down their cheeks. Children experience a vast number of emotions, which are heightened when puberty hits. Without parental guidance, these emotions can cause your children to make some bad decisions. Here's why it's important to teach children healthy coping skills.
Life Is Hard
Regardless of a person's age, life can be tough. Sure, children don't have to worry about things adults typically would. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t have their own issues. For instance, a common problem that many children face is bullying. Children are very impressionable and believe what they're told. If someone tells a child that they're ugly or calls them a name, they are likely to believe it. As a parent, you need to educate your child on the harshness of life. If they're young, explain it in a way that they'll understand. Tell them that not everybody is going to be kind and that they can choose to ignore it.
Avoiding Unhealthy Coping Mechanisms
Children who are unhappy, have low self-esteem and don't take constructive criticism lightly might turn to an unhealthy coping mechanism. Unhealthy coping mechanisms not only make the problem worse, but they can also lead to more serious issues. For example, many people who take drugs are trying to escape their problems and inner demons. Drugs actually do offer an escape, but it's only temporary. If taken routinely, the body becomes more resistant toward it, which means a larger dose is required to feel the nullifying effects. As a result, this causes the person to develop a drug addiction. However, if children are equipped with healthy coping skills, when they’re older, they are less likely to turn to negative coping mechanisms, such as alcohol, which can have a significant impact on their life.
It Makes Them More Likely To Voice Their Feelings
By teaching your children healthy coping mechanisms, they'll be more inclined to open up about what's on their mind. Talking about an issue is proven to be more beneficial than simply keeping it inside. If someone keeps an issue bottled up for too long, they'll eventually spiral and blame others for it. Granted, opening up about a problem isn't easy, especially for children. It can be awkward or even painful for them. But, by practicing healthy coping mechanisms, it'll be much easier.
Teaching children healthy coping mechanisms will make them better problem solvers. It'll help them to be more assertive and not resort to something that's dangerous. If you suspect that your child has a problem, you can help them through it.
Teaching your child another language can be beneficial for their brain development. Browse our educational toys here!
Leave a comment