Positive parent-child interaction

4828
Anthony Golden

Children live a period of rapid growth and development that represents a clear difference compared to the relative stability of adults

In addition to the physical changes associated with maturation, there are important social, cognitive, and behavioral changes that have profound implications for childhood psychopathology and its treatment..

Age is presented as one of the most important aspects to take into account, in the consideration and prognosis of a child's behavior, since what may turn out to be absolutely normal at a certain age may no longer be so at another age (fighting , bedwetting, fears or sexual activity). Behaviors of this type are considered in a very different way and have a different prognosis depending on the age of the child who manifests them. In fact, most of the symptoms of childhood disorders are appropriate behaviors, or at least typical in the early stages of development (hyperactivity, restlessness and even aggression). For example, epidemiological studies of normal children show that parents report that approximately half of their children are fussy, hyperactive and distractible; the most characteristic symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Age must also be taken into account when determining whether to intervene, the choice of the type of treatment and when to intervene. This is a complicated task due to the systematic changes in behavioral and emotional patterns that occur in the course of development..

To maintain a good relationship it is necessary that communication is good and always open.

  • Talking is not everything. It is better to speak in a low tone of voice but with a real consequence.
  • The tactics to develop good communication should be adapted to the age and maturity of the child..

The proper order to foster good communication is to move from more consequences with fewer words when they are young, and to more words with fewer consequences as they approach adolescence..

In general, it is best to use more DIRECTION with a young child and more COMMUNICATION with an older child..

Example:

Telling a 2-year-old that the stove burns can make him understand over time that he should not touch it, but withdraw his hand and firmly decide: NO! It makes him understand immediately what is intended. However, a teenager found drinking beer or smoking may need punishment, but it won't do much good if he is not given information about alcohol and drugs..

Contents

  • How to listen to our children so that they communicate their concerns, feelings ...
    • Observe their behavior
    • Help You Express Your Emotions
    • Time to listen to the children
    • Some tips for parents
  • How to talk to the child
  • How to understand our children
  • The steps to follow to establish standards are ...
    • A) Observe the children carefully
    • B) Analyze problem situations
    • C) Establish the rules
    • D) Be consistent when applying them
  • How to make decisions about our child

How to listen to our children so that they communicate their concerns, feelings ...

Observe their behavior

When the child suddenly begins to act in a different way, it is very possible that he will try to communicate something.

8-year-old Miguel had become destructive, breaking toys and things around the house. It was discovered that he was very concerned about his father's health, which was precarious, but never discussed in his presence. With help, she was able to express her feelings and stop expressing her fears.

Help You Express Your Emotions

The process of teaching a child to define and express their emotions is slow and requires a lot of insistence.

With very young children it is helpful to use the "feeling tree." As the child gets older it is useful to use expressions such as: "It sounds like you are angry with Juan", "You seem to be worried about something. What do you think it is? ... and fire after a short talk it can be achieved that the child verbalizes that he / she is jealous, ... .

Do not forget either that not only must he be taught to express his feelings but also that a consequence must be added to his behavior..

Example:

Javier, 4 years old, is trying to fit two pieces of a toy together and he can't. He's getting angry and finally throws the toy on the ground. His mother explains that it is normal for him to feel "upset" and that when he feels like he should ask for help. But it also adds a consequence "when you throw things like that you won't see them again all afternoon".

Time to listen to the children

It is very important to find a daily time to talk with our children, in which they tell us what has happened to them during the day and their feelings, so that they feel free to give us details..

Some tips for parents

  • Make Appointments to Talk. Don't Forget To Keep Appointments.
  • Pay your utmost attention to it. Act like you have all the time in the world and a friend of yours has a problem.
  • Start the conversation. Sometimes they have a hard time getting started. Then phrases like: "Let's talk" or "Tell me what worries you" will do; Sometimes it is much better to be more specific: "When you came home from school you looked very sad. Do you want to tell me what happened to you?" The child may say that he / she does not want to talk at that moment. So respect him and let him know that you can talk later when he is willing. It is also possible that your child needs one more push and that by first telling a story or inventing a story where a child like your child appears, to whom something similar happens ... it may then begin to express themselves. Other times it is best to start by sitting next to him, hugging him and waiting leisurely for him to start..
  • Keep the conversation alive. Resist the urge to summarize what counts before it's done. Avoid giving long speeches… Follow the thread like a friend rather than a policeman doing an interrogation. You must learn to put yourself in his place, let him know that you understand how he feels, put yourself at the level of the vision of the world that your child has, which does not necessarily have to be the exact "truth" of what happened. Finally let your child know that you are happy that he / she shares his / her feelings with you: "Thank you for telling me", "I'm glad you told me, I know it will have cost you", ... or just a hug.

How to talk to the child

  • Look him in the eye and encourage your child to look at you that way too. If your child finds it difficult, it may be useful to play the "Staring Game" at another time..
  • Don't forget to praise him when he does.
  • Speak to him in a firm and relaxed voice.
  • Use simple phrases. And avoid speeches.
  • Explain to your child the feelings that their actions or attitudes produce in you instead of criticizing them directly (in addition to establishing consequences when necessary): "I get very angry when you leave your toys uncollected and I have to pick them up", "I I get very angry when you take a long time to eat and I have to wait to clean up the kitchen and I can't be with you later reading a story "...
  • Learn to use phrases in the first person instead of the second. In this way, criticism and blaming the child are avoided and you do not stop expressing your emotions effectively.
  • Say what you think and think what you say.

How to understand our children

Here are some ideas that can serve as a guide for a good parent-child relationship:

  • Parents and children are not the same in all respects. The only difference is the natural dependence of the child for safety, support and food, which gives parents a natural responsibility for large areas of the child's life..
  • Parents who punish children who do not behave as expected are not "bad parents." Punishment is only bad when:
    • It does not serve to change a child's behavior
    • Carries unwanted consequences for the child
  • Parents promote a sense of safety in children when they say exactly what they intend, when they say it clearly, and when they are consistent and predictable in their behavior.
  • A child can develop his sense of responsibility only when he is held responsible for his actions. This sense of responsibility can and should be taught by parents.
  • Parental authority does not have to be exercised in an abusive, petty, harsh, or harmful way for the child. However, the authority rests with the parents.
  • Most of the difficulties between parents and children arise from the struggle that is established for power and control. Parents must know how to win this battle when necessary, so that they can empower their children when it is most advisable..

The keys to solving most of the difficulties that parents have with their children are to establish rules, mark the consequences that arise from breaking those rules and use consistent discipline.

Effective rules help children feel safe so they don't have to misbehave.

A set of norms defines what the relationships are between family members, offers guidelines for making decisions, and provides ideas about how changes should occur within the family. The procedure of establishing norms and limits for children is not immovable as they must gradually adjust to changing circumstances such as physical growth, intellectual and emotional maturation and the new conditions of family life. If a similar process does not take place in the family, Chaos will be inevitable. All its members will feel insecurity and anxiety when there is a lack of understanding and confusion regarding the role that each one must play to have an appropriate behavior.

The steps to follow to establish standards are ...

A) Observe the children carefully

The mere presence of the parents makes the behavior of a child not really what it would have. To understand these "other" behaviors we must be able to observe children without them being aware of our presence. Also ask friends or relatives what they think of your child's behavior. When a child is observed, what must be avoided is the tendency to only be the things that he does wrong, instead of observing his general behavior.

One of the main difficulties parents experience when observing their children stems from their desire to intervene in their behavior. If you want your child to behave "appropriately", remember that an unfortunate intervention can only lead to unwanted behavior..

B) Analyze problem situations

First, find out what the problem is. The best way to define a problem is to identify a behavior that you want to change.

One of the temptations most frequently suffered by parents when defining a problem is to want to modify the child's emotional state or feelings. The most effective thing, on the contrary, is to try to modify the behavior. If a behavior is modified, most of the time the emotional state that sustained that behavior also changes..

Once the problem is defined, the next step will be to analyze it. To do this we need all the information we can gather: When did it arise? How? What are its consequences? What part of it corresponds to us? How do we react? Do we understand why we react in this way? What would we like to do? How would we like this situation to resolve itself? In order to analyze each problem, it is best for the parents, with each other or with another person, to be able to speak.

After analyzing it, the next step will be to consider the different possibilities to solve it. Afterwards, it will be convenient to review each one of them taking into account whether we are capable of doing what each possibility requires, the probable consequences that this may have on the child and ourselves, and also if the solution is reasonable in terms of time. , energy and money.

C) Establish the rules

  • Rules must be reasonable
  • Parents should make sure they can distinguish when the rule has been met and when it is not..
  • The rules must be described in detail
  • The rules must establish a time limit
  • There must be some expected consequence if compliance with a rule is broken

D) Be consistent when applying them

Consistency is a way of informing the child that the parents really mean what they are saying. The consistent application of good rules will promote order and discipline in the family, provide security and help everyone to offer a better disposition.

How to make decisions about our child

Parents who find it so difficult to make decisions about their children have no confidence in how to act.

For some parents, any result that is not an immediate and spontaneous understanding or an effective response to difficulties is a sign of their personal incapacity. This is real nonsense, NOBODY IS BORN TO BE A FATHER. On the contrary, being a parent is something you learn.

It is not easy to make decisions about how to proceed with children. We have to do what we can with what we have. As a parent, you will need time to sit quietly to discuss your children's difficulties and to decide what to do..

When parents are indecisive in relation to their children, they perceive it and this affects their feelings of security and well-being.

If we make a mistake when choosing, parents and children are still together and we can thus correct the mistakes made in the past. This willingness to act decisively, even in the face of the possibility of making mistakes, is what allows adults to acquire a certain degree of confidence, which in turn will provide them with the ability to correct their mistakes.

Parents who are indecisive offer their children an excellent opportunity to be capricious and dominant, creating a climate of increasing tension..

When parents are also willing to admit their mistakes and to learn from them, they are also creating the necessary climate for their children, in turn, to admit their own mistakes and learn from them..


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