There are two important points to consider during a child's early years:
1. Crying is the most effective way to express having a physical and/or emotional need.
During that period, they have not yet developed the ability to identify their needs or self-regulate their emotions, as this is a maturational process that they will achieve over time.
Why am I telling you this? Because often when a child cries, it's common to hear parents and caregivers say things like, “Stop crying,” “it's not that big a deal,” “don't exaggerate,” among others. Today, I want us to look at the situation from the children's perspective so that we can provide them with the right tools to comfort them and build their emotional intelligence.
In moments of crying and crisis, it is necessary that as parents and significant adults in each child's life, we can be emotionally available and provide them with what they need at that precise moment: emotional containment. In daily life, containing little ones can be complex; with so many obligations, I know this point can get lost, but it is necessary to consider it and, above all, to have the tools to do so.
And how can we do that? By starting with validating their emotions, so we can guide and accompany them in developing emotional intelligence until they have the right tools and skills. .
In the image, I share 5 - out of many - ways to replace the phrase “stop crying” that will help you connect and contain, and then calmly correct and guide.
I hope it's useful for you, and now I'll take the opportunity to ask you: How do you hold back your child's crying? I'm reading your answers 🤓