“Don’t sweat the small stuff.” It is an expression we hear so much about, but we are all guilty of not putting it into practice. Sweating the small stuff seems to be our way of processing concerns. And it’s something that slowly disappears as we get older, become more responsible, and realize that the things that we were worried about were insignificant. But when our children start to feel worried about things, and these things are not important, how can you help your children process these worries, and come to the conclusion that it is not worth worrying about?
Ask About the Good Things
We can easily dwell on the worries, and if we are constantly asking our children about their worries, this can serve to reinforce these negativities, especially if we think that we need to help our children solve their problems constantly. You need to balance the bad with the good. If your children have insecurities about aesthetics, such as their hair or their teeth, these are things that can easily be fixed with a new hairstyle or clear braces and these are good things that we can focus on. It’s much like having that Friday feeling all of the time. If we can expect good things, rather than dwell on the bad things, this will naturally take over our lives, and this means that our children will slowly let worrying slip to the side.
Labeling How They Feel and What They Think
It’s important to let your children know that you are there for them if sometimes they’re not able to verbalize what they are worried about. In which case, is it better for them to express themselves in a different way rather than talking about it? Encouraging them to draw a picture, make a painting, or anything that helps them engage with the subject matter doesn’t just help them communicate their concerns, but it also provides a therapeutic practice so they can go through the process and potentially solve some of their concerns.
Be Careful Not to Dismiss
When our children have worries, it’s better to let them know that this makes sense rather than dismissing them. We don’t want our children to recognize that their feelings are incorrect, but understanding that having worries and concerns is normal, but it’s important for you to communicate that you accept how they feel you can help them with ways to handle things.
Talking Through the Problem and Potential Solutions
We should not solve the problems for our children, but talk about what can be done. Talking it through together is an important part of the process because it helps them to verbalize what they are thinking and feeling, giving them additional perspectives on the situation, while also strategizing potential solutions to the problem. Throughout the process, you also need to provide comfort and remind your children that you are there to help and protect them.
A problem is merely an issue that hasn’t been worked through yet. Once you learn how to practice solving a problem, this means that your child can build up their mental toolbox, which will work wonders for their health and their happiness.
Leave a Reply