Search Results for: child's emotions

The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives. – Anthony Robbins

Some children exhibit demanding behavior–expecting parents, peers and other family members to drop what they are doing and tend to whatever it is they want at the moment. It is frustrating for parents, especially when children display demanding behavior in public settings, such as at the mall or at family functions. While your first instinct may be to give into your child’s demands, resist the urge to give in, or risk creating a larger problem as your child gets older.

If you have an anxious child, you have one who is fearful and typically nervous. Many times, anxious children are too embarrassed to tell you the real problem, so when you ask, they might be secretive and tell you they feel sick, tired, or even that they are fine. If you do nothing to help an anxious child, he might start avoiding situations that produce the anxiety, which can result in isolating behavior, skipping school or drug or alcohol abuse.

Being overweight might be an awkward phase your child is experiencing, or it could be a precursor of things to come. When a child is overweight, he may feel uncomfortable or inadequate and continue to feed those negative feelings with more food. As the child ages his feelings may turn to despair and he may settle for a life without physical activity, which will not be healthy. As a parent, you can change the course of this unhealthy cycle. It’s important not to comfort the child with food when he is sad or upset. Affection, kind words and listening may be all the child needs, rather than an ice cream cone or a treat. Focus on the child’s behavior, and call out the behavior not the child. Eating candy before dinner may be a bad idea for an overweight child, but that does not mean the child is bad. Thwart the behavior without hurting the child’s feelings if you want to help the overweight child reach a healthy weight.