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Understanding Your Child’s Emotional Needs

In last week's blog, we talked about the 6 emotional needs of a child.

  1. Safety and security

  2. Routine

  3. Discipline and consistency

  4. Love

  5. Uniqueness

  6. Acceptance, recognition and approval


But, why is this important?

Emotional stability is necessary for children to feel happy and safe, and it is also essential for them to learn. Children with strong emotional skills have:

  • a positive attitude and self-acceptance

  • more self-confidence

  • better health and less stress

  • better behaviour and good relationships with friends

  • less conflict with siblings and parents

  • good communication skills

  • the ability to make decisions

  • more resistance to peer pressure


How can you help?

  • be affectionate and love your child unconditionally (Not just when they are good!)

  • listen to and talk with your child so that he knows he is being heard

  • create a safe and peaceful environment

  • show interest in what they are doing and recognize their efforts


Be available to play and make time to be present as you play together

  • allow them to make simple choices – what to wear, what game to play and what to eat.

  • encourage problem solving – “What do you think we should do here?”


Join their make-believe worlds as they express emotions and act out their view of the world

  • encourage independence by making time for them to do things for themselves

  • enjoy lots of physical activities to manage emotions

  • provide consistent and fair discipline by commenting on the behaviour rather than the child.

  • “That was not a polite way to answer” rather than “you are being rude”


Allow your child to experience emotions and to share how they are feeling

  • teach gratitude and good manners = please, thank you and sorry

  • laugh a lot together

  • be a role model by monitoring your own behaviour! Allow yourself to make mistakes – we all do!

 

Learn more about each of the 6 emotional needs of every child and how you can nurture them through books!


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