Life has a lot of obstacles for all of us. However, when we’re kids, we don’t really see those challenges; adults just take care of everything! As such, kids are mostly able to coast along and have fun as they grow, but you can never be sure when a big life change is going to hit your family.
And because of that, it’s best to prepare them for such events before they occur. In doing so you’ll be doing them the best service you possibly can as a parent; things like coping mechanisms aren’t usually taught in traditional educational settings. So with that in mind, here are four things to keep in mind about life lessons for kids.
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Don’t Go Alone
There’s a lot of help out there, both online and off, that can help normalise big life changes for your kids. You can even buy child-friendly books for bedtime stories or to sit down together with in the afternoon. All in all, you never have to explain something on your own, and you don’t have to rely on your own wealth of knowledge or depth of emotion. If something feels too big for you to tackle, get someone else to weigh in for your child’s sake.
Treat Every Question Importantly
When a big change or an emergency occurs, kids can find it very hard to keep up. They might withdraw into themselves until things feel normal again, or they might ask every kind of question under the sun. When they do, it’s best to treat each question as an important topic for discussion.
If you do, you’ll be able to fully explore your child’s feelings, and help them come to terms with what’s going on. If they’re finding the loss of a loved one hard, for example, you can talk to them about unique childrens funerals to help bring a sense of age-appropriate normalcy to the event. You can find out what they’re thinking and feeling, and ensure they never bottle it up.
Stick to a Routine
Routines make change a lot easier to come to terms with. If a child notices that things don’t really feel different in the day to day, they can focus on accepting the change outside of this. Maybe you’ve just moved house and left a beloved area behind? Stick to your usual routine and your child won’t get stuck in a pattern of always wanting to go back.
Show Them Control is Possible
Control is something we all want a bit more of in life, but it’s especially hard to come by when you’re young. So teach your child that control is still for the taking when something rocks their world. Let them pick their clothes or food, or what toothpaste or soap they use – a little decision goes a long way to making your child feel stable again.
Life throws a lot at you, and it’s key to learn about this young, for better results as an adult.
Laura x