Young children, especially during their formative years, are like sponges, absorbing everything around them. Today, they are increasingly exposed to socio-political issues, whether it’s overhearing their parents discuss financial struggles or being confined at home due to the pandemic. These experiences can take a significant toll on their well-being.
Stress, anxiety and depression are common among adults, whose effect is also felt among children. Many parents are also becoming more aware of behavioural issues and how therapy can address them.
If you’re a parent struggling to support your child’s emotional health or finding it hard to understand their moods, working with a local child therapist can make a big difference.
A local therapist is easily accessible and convenient, which means help is always at hand. For instance, if you live in Brighton, looking for child therapy in Hove, Brighton, or surrounding areas is always more reasonable. Besides, a simple Google search can get you a list of experienced professionals who are available to help.
But while therapy helps your children, it’s also important to understand how you can model healthy habits and behaviours as parents. Let’s explore the everyday ways to teach children about healthy emotional habits.
1. Let Them See You Cope
Your child is always watching you and soaking up everything from the way you react to things to how you cope with them. When you’re open about your feelings and coping strategies, you empower them to do the same by modelling good habits.
You don’t have to be perfect to raise an emotionally healthy child. You should be willing to be vulnerable with them. Teach your child through small daily moments that emotions are normal and that we just need to handle them with care.
You could start by saying, “I’m really frustrated right now, so I’m going to take some deep breaths.” When they see you getting more relaxed after this exercise, they will be more open to doing it the next time they’re feeling the same way. With this, you’re validating your child’s feelings and also helping them find a healthier way to cope.
2. Build Gentle, Predictable Routines
Your child needs structure and routine to feel safe. Routines create a sense of safety and make them feel more in control, especially when their emotions run high. We don’t mean you need rigid schedules or colour-coded charts. It can be simpler things like having dinner together or sticking to a consistent sleep routine. You can also set routines around chores or homework.
Having a routine can really help your child feel safe and secure. It’s not just about making a schedule for them, though; it’s equally important to create one for yourself! By following your own routine, you’ll set a great example for your child and show them how to stick to it too.
3. Model Using Coping Skills
When life gets a bit overwhelming, like when you’re running late for work or dealing with financial worries, it can be tempting to hide your stress and put on a brave face in front of your child. But it’s not always easy to do that, and sometimes our stress sneaks out in ways we don’t want. Instead, why not show your child how you take care of yourself during tough times?
Try putting on some soothing music or going for an evening run to shake off the stress of the day. When your child sees you finding ways to calm down rather than letting your feelings take over, you’re teaching them some really valuable lessons. You could even share what you’re doing by saying something like, “That meeting made me a bit nervous, so I’m going to take some quiet time to relax.” This way, you’re giving your child helpful tools for handling their own emotions someday!
4. Talk About Feelings Like They’re Normal
When you name your feelings out loud, even briefly, you help normalise emotional experiences and show your child that it’s safe to discuss them. You might say, “I’m feeling those butterflies in my stomach about my big meeting today.” Your child’s response opens a natural conversation about how being nervous is important.
These everyday moments don’t require deep conversations. You can use simple comments to model emotional awareness without making a big deal about it. These small moments of honesty help your children understand that emotions are just part of being human and not something to hide, ignore, or fear.
5. Show How You Handle Mistakes
The way you manage your mistakes deeply influences your child’s emotional development. If you snapped at them after a long day for no fault of their own, the moment you try to make up for it becomes a powerful teaching moment. When children see you acknowledge mistakes and make amends, they learn that part of being human is making mistakes.
You might try sitting down next to your child later and saying, “I’m sorry for how I spoke to you earlier. I was feeling overwhelmed, but that’s not your fault.” A simple statement like this shows emotional responsibility and helps your child understand that it’s okay to make mistakes as long as you acknowledge them and take responsibility.
6. Model Empathy When It Matters
When conflicts come up, especially between siblings or friends, it’s a great chance to teach empathy! If your child runs up to you saying, “Ella took my turn on the swing!” you could say something like, “I can see that feels unfair to you. Maybe Ella was worried she wouldn’t get another chance before she left.” If your child responds with a ‘maybe,’ you’ve already helped them learn an important lesson about understanding others.
Along with discussing feelings, it’s also valuable to guide your child in seeing things from different perspectives. This skill will help them flourish as they grow.
7. Be Careful with the Way You Talk to Yourself
Your child is paying attention to how you’re treating yourself and not just others. When you’re attempting a new recipe that flops, you might call yourself a bad cook. Instead, you could rephrase it to be kinder to yourself and avoid using self-critical language.
This small shift in language makes all the difference. Children who grow up hearing self-compassion instead of self-criticism develop an inner voice that supports rather than sabotages.
Final Thoughts
Supporting your child’s emotional development doesn’t mean getting everything right. It’s about the everyday examples you set and the way you handle yourself. You don’t have to appear to be flawless. They need to see you be kinder about your flaws and do the same for themselves.
The best part? You get a fresh shot at how you can teach them new behaviours by modelling every day.