Your child – whether 4, 14, or 24 – is a puddle of tears on the sofa: what do you do about it? As Perth’s leading babysitting service, Cherished Cherubs, we’re here to provide guidance on how to handle such scenarios. Understanding your child’s emotional needs can be challenging, but it’s vital for their growth.
First, empathise with your child. Witnessing your child’s distress is undoubtedly painful, but remember, no child’s journey is devoid of suffering. In fact, how you respond can significantly influence your child’s ability to cope with difficulties. At Cherished Cherubs, our experienced babysitters in Perth understand the importance of providing a safe and nurturing environment for your child’s emotional exploration.
Second, tune into your child’s needs. It’s instinctive to want to alleviate their discomfort. However, such efforts can unintentionally invalidate their feelings. Instead of saying, “Don’t cry, it’s okay,” try to understand that your child needs to experience their pain in the safety of your presence to process it.
As a parent or caregiver, assessing your child’s needs can be a challenging task, especially when emotions run high. However, equipping ourselves with the right tools and strategies can make it easier. Crying and frustration often indicate an overload in the sensory system. Instead of leaving our children to handle it alone, we must support them in these moments of despair with love, kindness, acceptance, and compassion. Maggie Dent, a child and parenting expert, shares strategies for understanding and supporting children in her podcast series “Parental As Anything”. Her tips are valuable for parents, and it has become a topic of conversation among us mums at the Cherished Cherubs head office. We share our “aha” moments and realize that we are not alone in our struggles.
Third, remember to not invalidate your child’s feelings. In doing so, we communicate that their emotions are too overwhelming, which can lead to them hiding their true feelings. This is something that we at Cherished Cherubs actively avoid in our babysitting practices in Perth.
Tears and frustration often indicate an overload in the sensory system. The child hasn’t yet developed the capacity to deal with the cause of the upset. Instead of asking our child to handle it alone, we must support them in these moments of despair with love, kindness, acceptance, and compassion.
The response to a child’s pain greatly influences their ability to tolerate difficult times. At Cherished Cherubs, we believe that when children are permitted to experience difficult emotions safely, they develop emotional maturity. They start understanding feelings as part of life’s rich tapestry, acknowledging that while it hurts, it’s okay to feel the hurt.
Whether your child is 4, 14, or 24, it’s never too late to connect with them differently. If you’ve always told them to get on with it, consider adjusting your response. See moments of suffering as opportunities to connect and allow your child to feel seen, held, and loved, not just in their straightforward moments but their difficult ones too.
Rather than saying, “It’s ok, don’t cry!” try, “Cry as much as you need to. I’m here for you.” Instead of, “There’s nothing to worry about! What’s your problem?” try, “This is a big deal for you, I see that. I’m here for you.” Instead of, “I know exactly how to sort this out!” say, “Do you want me to offer advice or to do something? I’m here for you.”
These simple adjustments can make a profound impact. They might require more time and emotional energy, but we assure you, it’s worth it. As professional babysitters in Perth, at Cherished Cherubs, we are here to guide you through these moments. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us. Remember, the most important thing is to let your child know that they are seen, heard, and cherished, in every moment of their lives.
