Raising and nurturing children can be tough, and there can be times when you feel that you are just not getting anywhere, or even having a breakthrough. It is important to build empathy within your child over a period of time and to not expect too much at once. If you place high expectations on yourself, or on your child, then you are adding unnecessary stress and pressure to the process. So, what can you do to develop empathy in your child, and what approach should you be looking at taking?
Listen To Your Child
Before jumping in at the deep end, it is always important to listen to your child. When you listen to them you can start to get a feel for what they are experiencing and going through. Then, from here you can start working on a plan of action. If you do not listen to what your children have to say then you could struggle with communication problems later down the road, and you can struggle with helping them to express their emotions. Listening can be difficult, but it is important to actively listen when you can (even if you are very busy).
Demonstrate Empathy: Lead By Example
Children often learn best when they are taught with examples, therefore, it is important that you demonstrate empathy when you can—both in your home life and in those situations outside the home. Demonstrate how you handle a situation, and tell your children how you have been empathetic to a person or situation. When children can see a concept in practice they are much more likely to copy and replicate it.
Be Open About Your Feelings And Their Feelings
Sharing feelings and talking about emotions can be difficult, and it can be even more of a difficult barrier to cross if you are facing other hurdles within your life, such as going through the adoption or fostering process. Being open, and also being honest about feelings and emotions is crucial for your child. If you are struggling to open up about what you are feeling, or you feel that they are, then you need to seek further support and guidance. Reaching out to others such as friends and family is critical to success, because a good listening ear can make all of the difference. If you are fostering or adopting a child, you may also reach out to an agency such as the FCA, which may be able to assist you further in having those difficult or challenging talks.
Validate Their Emotions And Feelings
Children often struggle to display and express their emotions, and this is why it is important to validate what they are feeling, and how they are acting. When you validate and value your child’s emotions you are setting an example, and you are being a positive role model. Displaying behavior that you want them to follow is crucial; and taking time to validate their emotions and feelings is positive because it shows them they are listened to and valued.
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