Understanding Your Child’s Emotions

The objective of discipline is to teach and provide instruction. However, nowadays, most people exclusively associate discipline with punishment or consequences.

Understanding your child’s emotions and recognizing their feelings towards a situation is crucial.

Acknowledging their emotions and expressing that you comprehend why they are upset helps your child feel secure and not threatened.

If your child is crying and throwing a tantrum, you could say, “I can see that you’re feeling very upset right now.” This validates your child’s emotions and empowers them to identify their feelings.

Listen attentively to your child instead of lecturing, arguing, or explaining.

If your child breaks a rule, teach them why their behavior was inappropriate as a first step. This will allow them to understand the wrongness of their actions and experience natural feelings of guilt and regret. It is best to use discipline strategies that avoid criticism.

Instead of saying a firm “no” when your child asks for something, give a “yes” on your terms.

A flat “no” can activate a child’s lower brain and lead to drama, but a conditional yes can prevent this.

For kids to listen and learn effectively, a strong connection is necessary. Without it, they may struggle with emotional regulation and processing new information.