Coping is not built-in knowledge. It is a learning process that is developed and nurtured- both positive and negative methods can be used. As a parent, you have the power to help guide your children to learn positives methods to deal with situations including stress, defeat, and disappointment which we all have to deal with in life.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Teaching Your Child to Cope by Marie Hartwell-Walker, Ed.D provides parents with 6 tips to help your child develop positive coping mechanisms. Here are a few examples from the list:
- Don’t Ignore a Problem
Encourage your child to deal with their problems head on. It doesn’t
matter if the problem is large or small, teaching your child to think critically and use their resources is important so later in life they are equipped to deal with larger obstacles.
2. Don’t Step in too Soon
Often times it is our first instinct to want to solve our children’s problems for them in a distressing time but giving your child the space to deal with issues on their own can build confidence. Encourage and support your child by allowing your child to analyze the pros and cons of the situation and make a decision.
For more tips check out the list and tell us what you think.
The Do’s and Don’ts of Teaching your Child to Cope
In what ways have you guided your adolescent/young adult to develop positive coping skills?