Communicating Emotions
Resiliency is not only about action but also about emotions. How can you get over the mountain if you are already thinking you won’t be able to take the first step? Here are four ways to help your child communicate their emotions and become more resilient:
Be a model: Remember when your teenager was an infant mimicking your sounds and movements? Your child is still watching how you handle situations through your verbal and nonverbal communication. Show them it’s okay to fall and have a conversation with them about your experiences. They’re learning even if they say otherwise.
Be a soundboard: Create an environment that allows your child to feel comfortable coming to you to talk. Teens go to their friends because they understand, so give your child a safe place to talk about what happened if they’ve had difficulty. Your role is not to fix things—your role is to listen without judgment.
Be open-minded: Expecting your child to be perfect sets your child up for a pressure-filled existence. Communicate with your child about your expectations as a student, friend, family member, etc., and let them share their thoughts as well. By doing this your child is learning to advocate for themselves and express their opinions.
Be a label maker: Help your child label their feelings. Chances are your child will feel angry, sad, disappointed again in the future, and this is a great opportunity to let them find coping strategies to make them feel better the next time it happens.