5 Ways to get your children to share their feelings with you
Every parent is curious about how their children feel as feelings are instructive. Every child feels emotions like adults do. They get sad, happy, excited and angry. They are often reluctant to share their feelings and may stay silent. But can show them by their actions, facial expressions and their tones. If your child is suddenly giving cold shoulders to you and has not been expressive, you should know something is up. We have collected five ways you can bring them to open up to you.
1) Give them spaceIf your child has suddenly changed and is acting odd, then there is something cooking. The last thing you might want to do is confront them directly and pressure them to open up. If you scold them, they will be scared of you. They might share their feelings now, but they will start to hide them in the future.
The best thing is to be patient and give your children enough time to open by themselves. It would allow them to be strong and be comfortable enough to talk about it.
2) Show that you care
Always show kindness towards your children and share the stories of your past where opening up helped you. This way, your children will also feel encouraged to talk about what they have in mind. You can ask them if they want to talk about it and even if they don’t stay calm and kind. You can make small talks with them by asking about their day or if they need something. It will show that you care. You cannot expect them to open up to you if you do not show empathy and love for your children.
3) Be available
If you are always at work or home being busy with some task. Then children may not open up as they will see that you are occupied. Understandably, you cannot be always available, but allow yourself to take some time off and invest in children. Cutting the conversation short can have a lasting impact on your relationship.
You can allocate some free time to give to your children and talk or play with them. You will gain their trust as they will see you as a friend. Similarly, do not wait for the kids to come to you as some kids only open up when they see that the other person is interested too
4) Be a good listener
At times all you have to do is listen carefully and understand. Whenever your child opens up, try to address the issue constructively. There is no need for lectures and drag the subject on for long. Close the topic and prevent it from escalating to the point where your child begins to feel agitated. (Unless your child has gone through a traumatic experience)
5) Compliment them when they open up
It takes courage to talk about some things, and as a parent, you should let them know that opening up is the best option. Whenever your child expresses themselves, they are worthy of praise. Praising them will help them repeat the action.
Final thoughts
For some children, it is natural to share their feelings with their parents. However, not every child is the same. You should always encourage them to talk about everything, no matter how small. Your children will grow up to be confident, expressive and emphatic. They might continue to trust you for years to come, even during the teens.