There are so many reasons that cause your little one to have tantrums, whine, and cry. Even the smallest things can make him cry.
Crying is the first language a child has from birth.
Generally, babies cry to convey their physical needs. However, when a child begins to communicate with other people, crying becomes a way for your child to convey their emotions to others. Crying to show anger, frustration, sadness, fear, etc. Their vocabulary is still limited, so they have not been able to tell in detail what they feel. Crying is a way that children use reflexively in the hope that parents can understand their needs.
We often respond to a child who is crying by saying “Don't cry! Don't cry baby!” in the hope that the child will stop. However, instead of stopping, the child will cry even louder. They feel we are not trying to understand their feelings. This can adversely affect the development of a child's emotional regulation ability, Ladies.
What to say to soothe your little one when they cry?
First of all, provide space for children to express their emotions
"It's okay if you want to cry first."
If your child has not been able to tell what happened, give him time to vent his emotions first. Approach the child when he cries, look into his eyes warmly and let him finish his cry. Then, try to read his feelings again.
The second one is, Be a protector of children
"Honey, I am here all the time!"
Making your little one feel safe by saying we will always be by his side can help him feel that he is not alone. Children also feel safe and can relieve their emotions well. This speech can also increase the child's sense of trust in us.
The third one, invite him to tell him what happened
"What happened my dear? Try talking to mommy first."
"Mommy is ready to hear your story, dear"
Try to understand your little one's feelings as well as the situation. When the child's emotions have subsided, allowing him to convey the reason why he was crying. Try to understand how he feels. Let him know that you are happy to listen to all the complaints, feelings of happiness, and experiences that your child going through.
The fourth one, invite children to solve problems together
"Is there anything I can help you with, my dear?"
Once the child has calmed down, offer to work out a solution to the problem together. But, that doesn't mean it's done for the sake of your little one. We can act as advisors or provide suggestions that your child can do to deal with the problem. So that the child learns to be independent in solving problems.
Before helping your little one to relieve his crying, make sure you already calmed your heart. When you are ready, look into the child's eyes, give a smile and a warm hug, then speak in a soft voice. The child will feel calm and safe so that he can control his emotions again.
By: Fitie's Pen pal, Munasiroh